>>5443579

A distortion rises between you and the gaping black orifice into the town’s long-forgotten bowels. It breathes as the heated steam of the inhabitant’s excrement and the excreted inhabitants, churned, sloshed, frothed, and splashed back into the pervasive cold from which it dropped. The sewers serve as a linear segment of the twisted cycle of suffering, suffering to consume, consumption, consumption, suffered consumption, and again.

It breathes in your face to challenge you to face it.

Here you will breach this miasmic thread of infinitely twisted intestines to purge it of your kin. They will not be made into that thing called Thera-Yuugoth. The essence of their physical forms will not be severed like cattle to join this effluvium of hopeless suffering.

You cut through the sheet of veiled air to gaze upon your companions. “Luca and Seo will serve as the vanguard against what we may encounter in there. Mishenne and Izurin will follow right behind, as I bring up the rear to remain vigilant against an unforeseen ambush.”

The humans nod in pensive silence as they all stare hesitantly into the unknown abyss. It remains a daunting threshold despite all that they’ve yet faced.

“W-we should make a torch first...” Mishenne rummages in his bag while also searching the surrounding refuse for usable material.

At the same time, after finishing rubbing her deep blue eyes free of the lingering sleep, Izurin shares with you a brief look of understanding before she begins to lower her thin legs onto the slimy indents cut into the cold stone.

>>5443579

“Whoa! Where do you think you’re off to?” Luca grabs her by the arms quickly and pulls her up easily. He then inverts her body to inspect the Elin’s feet, not noticing the loose clothing sliding down as he bends her leg to get a closer look. “Huh, those cuts are also gone as well, but these things are filthy.”

Seo’s eyes are knives colder than the surroundings as she waits for him to notice his own indelicate actions.

You glare at him with hands upon your hips. “Naturally any cuts would be gone after my healing, and if you care so much about the cleanliness of her feet, then you can buy her a pair of shoes once all of this is finished.”

“Finished…” Luca remains lost in thought before finally noticing his human companion’s disparaging stares. He flips Izurin back into the correct orientation before clearing his throat. “I only wanted to make sure that none of that sewage seeped into a cut.” He loudly announces yet while completely avoiding eye contact. “We should get going… I’ll go first in case any of you fall.” He's quick to escape into the sewer.

Mishenne holds up the makeshift torch along with the flint and tinder the humans used on their trip here. “N-not the best, but it will work.” His words come quickly as if he wants to work his way through them as quickly as possible.

Seo snatches the torch from his hands. “Better than stumbling around in the dark like a certain individual…” She sighs before following Luca.

“H-hey… I made that.” Mishenne calls out in quiet protest and he’s quick to follow after his friends.

The Elin’s haste has spurred the humans into action, and you nod your thanks to her. She looks at you quizzically but eventually gives you a tranquil smile before quickly tottering after the others.

Ah, so it wasn’t only the young humans that grew from this. If only all of your kin was afforded the same chance under different circumstances…

After watching the last form disappear beyond the unlighted entrance, you retrieve the rusted metal cover onto which you scrape a thin layer of snow and slide it over the portal as you descend face this challenge.

>>5443611

For several silent minutes, you follow your group of companions as they struggle to acclimate to the presence of flowing filth. Their footfalls are careful to avoid slipping into the thick stream of red-brown broth. Their noses are inadequately concealed beyond their undershirts as they yet flinch at the noxious gasses that pop beyond the surface of the waste steam to breath temporary vigor into the flickering flame.

Its temperamental orange light is cast far enough to reveal the slick stone sides of the tunnel with all manner of unknown fleshy growths found within furtive cracks. But, it only extends a few steps beyond the humans in front, and to look directly ahead is to proceed completely blind.

“Do your best to avoid dropping the torch.” You warn Mishenne as you carefully watch his reaction. “Let us know if you need someone else to carry it for a while.”

Upon hearing your words his body jumps in fear as his hand tightens hard around the shaft of the wood torch. He holds it this way far beyond his body, yet he says nothing in response.

He’s been avoiding talking to you directly ever you found him and Izurin, and yet he’s not expressed any hesitation in following all of you down here… Izurin’s only injuries were the blow to her head and the bite. Nothing to indicate any sort of cowardice, and both injuries pair well with the story that he reported to you… except for being able to fend off the ravenous gorehounds on his own.

Stay away from her.

The mumbled words that Izurin said upon awaking that you took for nonsense come back to you suddenly.

He had help.

However, in that moment, your animal ears pick up on a low and deep sound ahead of your group.

>>5443653

“Stop.” You whisper only loud enough for your voice to carry and continue to listen. After a few more seconds, Izurin’s animal ears also perk at the noise of something wet and heavy slowly dragging along the stone tunnel toward you.

Slow moving, and only one, but something large…

“Something is ahead of us. Weapons out but remain calm.” You order steadily as you now turn to discerning the distance between you and whatever lies ahead.

Luca and Seo immediately respond to your command with mace drawn and sword held half-sword. “How many?” Seo voice is firm as asks to discern what's in store for her. "Towards us or away from us?"

“One heading away… maybe sixty more paces given its slow movement. ” You turn to the human behind her. “Don’t bother with the knife.” You flatly command Mishenne as you motion for your group to proceed slowly. “It’s not going to do all the work down here.”

He stops fumbling with the torch immediately before quickly stepping as forward as he possibly can without bumping into his friends.

There will be time to sort that question out later, but for now…

Every step brings the quiet squelching clearer into your ears until you can make out the pained grunts of two separate male voices.

How?! Unless they’re moving in perfect unison you should’ve been able to discern both their bodies.

“They might be carrying someone.” You softly inform your group of a possible explanation for this new information.

“I can hear it move now…” Luca whispers back as he carefully eyes the space that the tunnel will provide him in the case of combat. His gaze turns back to his friend and to check on Izurin. “Hold that higher, Misha. You. Be sure to stay back for once.”

Mishenne does as he asks, while Izurin focuses on listening to what’s ahead, seemingly not noticing his words.

“Watch out for her…please.” His eyes flash in your direction for only a moment as those are the last words he chances to whisper.

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>>5443680

The dragging of flesh on stone comes clearer and clearer until any step will soon reveal the source, and finally like breaking the surface of a dark pool, what’s beyond the darkness reveals itself.

It crawls, if it can be called that. A bloated mass of interconnected body parts spasm against the hard ground in an arhythmic pattern of chaos. Much like the gas bubbles from the foaming stream it sloshes through, its many limbs carve through the air in sudden bursts of short lived but violent locomotion. Paired with expulsions and drippings of blood, urine, drool, and other more viscous excretions it moans in sheer agony of its manifold existence.

The hardy arms of Devan, the battered torsos of young women, the gaunt and sunken legs of the elderly, the slender parts of children, and even the stubby limbs of human infants all move in asynchrony, but ultimately toward the same goal, south.

This horrid disregard for the inviolability of a body reminds you of a crude imitation of Dakuryon’s handiwork, but even he wouldn’t have lent time to such meaningless form.

“Your fault… It’s all your fucking fault you miserable Devan…” The voice of a human male sounds from somewhere within this true abomination.

“Hehehe. It all our fault. You want trade bodies for to keep family safe and together. Now you all safe and together. But we keep moving, keep moving to join...her.” The husky voice of mirthful Devan responds. “Wait. Someone here…heehehe”

The spasmic aberration ceases its pilgrimage to lurch its form around to gaze upon you with three inverted eyes shared between two fused heads.

“Human! Humans! Masters, masters!” The Devan’s cries out eagerly at the same time the human sobs in fear. “Ahh! No! Stay back… No more! Just kill us already. Let my family just die already!”

Seo's mace goes limp in her hand as Luca shudders in horror at the sight of the creature ahead of him. Mishenne wretches a thin stream of bile onto the wet ground as he struggles to hold the torch up, while Izurin moves to grip Luca's hand.

Not sensing anything immediately behind you, you hurry to push past your companions. "Where did you come from and what are you attempting to do?"

"They kept us prisoners in those sea cells..." The human side bemoans immediately. "They tore us apart, slow, slow! Then they put us back together with that...meat. We're not meant to be alive, so just let me and my family die! My wife...my mother...my children..."

"They all here! I feel them close..." The Devan laughs joyfully. "Why you no talk to them.?" He snickers before turning his single eye toward you. "It call us, so we go now. You no hear her singing?..." He hums a low and single note. "Connect! Connect!"

Connect...What you heard in the fleshscape that first night in the barracks. Then, they're trying to join with the piece of the being that resides below the Maturation Pit?"

>>5443690

"Let's kill this disgusting thing and be done with it already." Luca snarls readying his sword. "It doesn't deserve to live any longer."

"No wait!" The Devan's voice shouts back in a panic. "You go too, right? You go to join, but you no hear singing. Let us show you. Let us keep you safe. Other ones want to join too, they go wild try to get outside, try to get here like us!" The laughs comes out of his side of the shared face like a fit of strangling coughs. "Many go wild and attack, Even masters like you. But no attack us! We tell them 'go away!', if you no kill us. Let us keep you saf-."

"Forget that nonsense!" The human barks with crazed eyes. "My daughters! I feel them, I feel the pain of what they did to them! Let them die! Fucking kill us!"

"I don't want to hear this thing anymore." Mishenne voice rises in his panic. "Forget killing it and let's go already!"

Seo sighs with a shudder in her voice to calm herself and then she steps toward your side. "You said that you would keep us safe, so make your decision and let's keep moving. The less we're subjected to listening to this...thing, the better." She leans in closer. "This 'her' it's referring to is what concerns me."

That final truth...

Their voices come one after the other at you without allowing any silence in between.

You look down upon the creature with pity and disdain. "You move at a snail's pace. How would you ever help us?"

"Hehehe" The Devan giggles before a thick slime begins to ooze from the bottom of its form. "You push, we slide easy. We go as fast as you go! We help get you safe!"

Luca still looks at you impatiently for the order to simply kill it.

You sigh and watch the slime drop from the creature in thick clumps. The offer of added safety on your way south, if true, is hard to pass. Resources and mana are in short supply as they are, and any combat on the way there is that much less you can devote elsewhere... Perhaps you could take advantage of its offer, and still give it the mercy of death once you've reached the Maturation Pit? Luca and Mishenne would recoil against any decision besides killing it or leaving it behind, respectively. Their mental states are another type of resource you need to consider as well, as your plan requires you rely on their help.

They all await your reply to the abomination's offer.

>Write in.

>>5443705
So for free actions, I want to doublecheck if contact with an elin is going to cause a reaction. We're in a controlled environment and can stop it quite easily.

But as for this offer, I'm considering some.......strange ideas.
>Use the abomination as a battering ram and meatshield
>Kill and load up on chunks of flesh to throw
>Practice using the bond severing magic as an efficient scalpel

>>5443971
The biggest issue I see of using it is that it's of two or more minds about things, so any deal we make with it won't ever satisfy both halves.

Like, we use it to keep away other things, and then the half that wants to die will make a ruckus and attract as much as possible so that we're forced to kill it.

I'm leaning towards just kill it, put it out of its misery.

>>5443705
>>5443971
Killing it and just taking chunks to distract anything that gets in our way sounds like a good plan. While I can see the benefits to having it tag along, I'm just picturing the father screaming and begging to be killed the entire way, and I think it would really rattle everyone, except maybe Elewyn.
I'm not sure what you're referring to with the bond severing magic, though. As for contact, assimilation and consumption is what happened with the processed meat ration. Didn't look to hurt it until we applied a limited Sundowing to it. Which reminds me. Have someone move the torch closer. I really want to know if it's just our light/holy mana that's having an effect or if bright lights and maybe heat are good weapons. I don't think we ever got a clear answer from the fights we've been in.

>>5444057
>I really want to know if it's just our light/holy mana that's having an effect or if bright lights and maybe heat are good weapons. I don't think we ever got a clear answer from the fights we've been in.
That's what I'm talking about with the bond severing magic. Right now Elewyn is just using a full force Sundowning to do the job, but now we can pinpoint exactly what part of the magic is doing the trick so it isn't so costly.

>>5444061
I see! Then yes, we should take some time for testing. We may just have to cut our way to part of it when we go for Alys, so best test our tools now, you're right. We should probably do so before we kill it, at least a little, just in case death changes how it reacts. It's all fragments of a bigger thing, so my guess is no, but we have to check.

>>5443705
Alright, for an actual vote then.
>Send Seo, Misha, and Izurin further down the passage
>With Luca, attempt to kill the thing, using up to 3 mana to try and break it apart. Give the thing the peace it deserves.

If we use up to 3 mana, then we're sitting on 15, which is enough for 2 heals and a Gust I think.

>>5443971
>>5444102
>>5444293

I enjoyed watching the strategy development take place with this choice, and from the votes that we have a few things that we will attempt are for certain. Namely, using a small amount of magic to test severing intra/interbonding phenomena that is occurring with the abomination. Afterward, at some point we will decide to kill the abomination with Luca and add some its pieces to our stock of flesh.

>We should probably do so before we kill it, at least a little, just in case death changes how it reacts.
This informed the overall order in which we perform the above actions.

I think the extra pieces will partially cover using the abomination as a meatshield, and its usage as a battering ram is intriguing, but bringing enough of it to do so would likely cause duress to some of the party, to which there are explicit actions to avoid that, so we will pass on that latter part.

>I want to doublecheck if contact with an elin is going to cause a reaction.
Very doable with two Elin in the party.

>I really want to know if it's just our light/holy mana that's having an effect or if bright lights and maybe heat are good weapons
This will also be straightforward to address, and I appreciate you bringing it up as I now recall the question arising a few threads ago.

Now for the question that I've been pondering for a bit. How much mana would be required to perform such a test? Sundowning would give the clearest conclusion given the nature of the spell and its associated cost, but it's pretty clear that you don't want to spend such a large amount of mana. So, 3 mana. We have a spell which projects an aura of our own in a radius around us that if concentrated on a target could potentially interfere with any existing bonds in a similar albeit weaker manner to Sundowning. So, with the above actions also in mind...

>Elewyn to cast Dawn's Blessing to temporarily shield the abomination with her aura.

Nice, thanks for the votes! Writing all this up, and update to be posted around 8pm PST tomorrow.

>>5444416

They were prisoners in the past, prisoners to their present torment, and soon to be fully imprisoned by the will of Thera-Yuugoth, all doomed to a shared sentence. Outwardly the necessity for such a shared triad of punishments is just as absurd as its existence, but as you gaze upon its grotesque manifold form, you glean its true purpose.

Past, present, and in their short future they are an experiment.

You have your answer.

With a flourish of the hair spilling from your cloth hood, you turn to Seo who stands impatiently close to your side and begin to roll up what remains of your tattered and charred sleeves. “Take Mishenne and Izurin ahead, but not too far.” You motion toward the abomination as you give your explanation. “We’d like a bit of privacy as we give our reply.”

Seo’s hard gaze silently digests your words before turning briefly toward Luca and then back to you. “Be quick about it then.”

The tone of her words is more in line with advice then a complaint. Immediately, she huffs and marches toward her troubled companion and grabs him roughly by the shoulder. “Come on…” She leans close to his ear. “You’ll be far enough that shielding your ears may do some good.”

As Seo shoves Mishenne ahead, Luca turns his gaze back toward Izurin, but while still warily keeping the abomination in his periphery. “You too.”

The fading flickering light of the torch casts rapidly shifting shadows over Izurin’s neutral stare before she resigns herself to carry out his order. However, while the two departing humans do their best to maintain as much distance as possible from the abomination, she appears to walk directly toward it.

“What are you doing?!” Luca shouts and lunges to grab her by the back of her tunic, but with his sword drawn, she’s able to run a single step out of his reach and toward the amalgamation of bodies heaving in the low light. Her hands gently wrap around the sides of the shared faces before she rests her forehead upon the hideous visages.

>>5445295

“Ahh…” The human and Devan’s voices shudder along with their shared body. “That feels… that feels…good.“

Mana. It’s weak, very weak but now you’ve sensed it being used outwardly. Given her limited level of form within the fleshscape, it could be she’s lacks any sort of mastery or it she might not be fully aware of it herself.

Before anything further can be said, it is Seo who snatches the Elin away from abomination. With the torch held firmly in her other hand, the abomination is cast in lurid detail, and you see that between the jutting body parts lie thick channels of purplish and veiny tissue binding it all together. It clumsily recoils from sudden brightness of the flame, but as quickly as Seo leaves, it regains its focus.

“Wait!” The human’s voice pleads with the departing figures. “Their screams, they were stopped. They were at peace! Bring her back! Please! Please!” A great flurry of spittle flies from his mouth as he desperately steers the shared form to turn after her. "She can connect! It want use her." The Devan cries out after the departing pair.

Now it’s your turn to share your mana.

“No.” You finally give your answer as you heave one the thin limbs it uses to stand out from underneath it. The rest of the grotesque multiform body slips on the viscous fluid it expulsed, and it slams to the stone floor with a meaty thud. Then, concentrating on the area around it as it furiously writhes on the ground, you raise your staff into the profound darkness and evoke an aura of your protection. The subtle billowing light fills the nearby void and hangs softly over its profane body.

The reaction is immediate.

>>5445309

Both voices scream in pure agony deafening you and Luca as their suffering reverberates off the stone tunnel in infinite disharmony. The rugged interconnecting tissue puckers tightly on itself retracting the limbs to an inward extreme from which you hear its bones cracking. “M-masters…please stop! STOP!”

Even an incomplete severing from Thera-Yuugoth’s presence causes instability in its form, much like the degradation of the meat you tested days ago. But this amount of mana isn’t enough to break it apart completely it seems. It’s only enough to torment it, unless…

“What the hell are you doing?...” Luca horrified voice comes from behind you. “Kill it already!”

You ignore his words and instead focus on slowly maneuvering around the abomination with staff outstretched. You adjust your mana in order shift your aura to fall partially over a set of small limbs dangling precariously due to the retracting flesh.

Can a smaller piece be separated?

“STOP STOP STOP STOP STOP STOP!” The body slams itself upon the ground, slipping in a feeble attempt to escape from your magic. The two voices scream until their voices lose breath and then scream yet more. “KILL US!”

As a result of your aura shifting, so too does the tightening nodules of skin retreat then rather be cut from its god. It pulls back revealing more of the small legs to your eyes. It’s thighs, her genitals, her navel, her…

Half of the young infant suddenly drops with a torrent of blood splashing onto your feet. As the gaping reddish hole left in the abomination puckers to close upon itself, pulling in the rest of her body it willingly severed to be free from your mana, squeezing mucus and blood outward as it does.

You sigh and cease your aura, and in the growing darkness you and Luca stand silent with the weeping voices abomination and its fluid dripping form. Beyond the noises of its broken bodies, you hear it undulating what parts it can to slide toward you. “Little girl…” The Devan’s hoarse voice moans in the dark. “No more… You must connect…” His voice is cut short from a shuddering cry. “It want you most… It know your smell. I tasted it now. We taste you now. We want you!” The voices shout in unison as lunges its twisted form toward you.

You give it a hard kick and it slips on its own draining fluid once again. It didn’t seem to react specially to your or Izurin’s presence until you used your mana.

With your foot mercilessly pressed down upon its faces, Seo quietly returns to stand between the two groups with the single torch. Her face is turned away from you.
“Your dirk.” You call out to the young human whose large frame stands frozen behind appalled eyes.

He stares at you with mouth open aghast before shaking his head as if to try to clear the memory of what just happened. He deftly pulls out his smaller blade and holds out the handle to you.

>>5445322

The flesh is severed easily with the well sharpened knife, and you watch as the corrupted crimson bursts from its ruptured artery housing. Intense relief and outrage are cast upon the shared faces in the exact same moment. The human male closes his eyes as Devan glares at you with utter spite, and blood sticking close to his chipped teeth. “You deny blessing! You rotten gir-“

Luca thrusts his longsword with surgical precision through the beating core of the abomination before retracting it just as quickly. A violent fountain sporadically sprays above you and him, coating you both with a misting of the shared vital fluid.

It isn’t long before the abomination sags completely to the ground and all its limbs lose are free from their shared life and punishment.

After watching it die in the stream of filth, your eyes fall upon the dimly lit legs of infant that you separated from the whole and move to spot other easily cut part of its form.

“Move ahead.” You quietly tell Luca without turning away from the dead amalgamation of bodies. “I’ll return to the rear shortly.”

His sword rises slightly with the tightening of his fist. “What more do you intend to do with it? Did you not torture it enough? And what of the this thing it keeps referring to?” His voice a fierce whisper as he does his best to avoid alerting your other companions.

“Torture as it may have been, it was for information.” You answer flatly and without any hesitation. “The more we learn of the creations of the Sanctuary, the better equipped we are to deal with the others.”

His teeth audibly slide against each other as he clenches his jaw. He doesn’t disagree with you, but instead exhales forcefully. “You didn’t answer what you intended to do with it or who it kept referring to?” His eyes are weary and voice exasperated as he peers into the distance to search for Izurin.

It would be extremely difficult to explain the existence of Thera-Yuugoth at this time and not expect it to jeopardize his composure and therefore his commitment to the mission and to keeping himself alive. The time will come, but for now you decide how you ought to handle his other question regarding your intent to carve the body for usable pieces.

>Tell him to focus on protecting Izurin and his other companions, and leave you to do what must be done to do the same.

>As tactfully as possible, inform him of the practical usage of the chunks of flesh with the violent flesh beasts.

>Write in.

>>5445324
>>As tactfully as possible, inform him of the practical usage of the chunks of flesh with the violent flesh beasts.
>This torture may serve some use rescuing someone only half-absorbed. Like yourselves, should we be ambushed and separated.

>>5445324
>As tactfully as possible, inform him of the practical usage of the chunks of flesh with the violent flesh beasts.

Brief explanation time Luca
Their own cut up flesh acts like catnip to others of their kind. I used some of it to escape a larger one of these before you arrived, and we can use some of this to distract the hounds on our escape.

Either way, I hoped to split them apart with my magic. They don't seem to react well to healing, however.

The point is to impress upon him that we killed them for a purpose.

On a different note, I know it's obvious, but we REALLY don't want us or any other Elin like Izurin to be taken alive should things go poorly.

>>5445324
>>As tactfully as possible, inform him of the practical usage of the chunks of flesh with the violent flesh beasts.
What did we learn from this?
We can separate the flesh, which will be very useful since I know from experience that those with magic, like me and Izurin, will agitate the meat and cause it to latch on and burrow. What it does after we don't know, I didn't let it get that far when a small piece tried it on me. That's when I found out one of my spells hurt them quite a bit. I use it to stun most foes, but it cause an averse reaction. What I just used was a different one. Far cheaper. Even better, it's something I can cast on multiple people with ease. Imagine your fight with the abominations at the clinic, and how it would have changed had your mere presence cause them to shrink back? It may just be the biggest tool at our disposal, even more so if I can use this spell onto your weapons. A simple dagger or sword strike parting the coiling flesh to allow your blade to strike at the vulnerable insides. It would just about make us immune to those things in melee.

If I'm correctly interpreting the results. But this looks really promising, though if it's half as good as I'm suspecting, it may require a slight revamp of our Dawn's Blessing, or maybe an alternate, more expensive form like for the wind blast with a curve effect.

>>5445526
>>5445533
>>5445664
So, we're unanimous in giving Luca an explanation to our actions, making sure to impress upon him that we acted with definitive purpose beyond the collateral suffering. To his immediate question we explain that the chunks of flesh serve as a type of bait that can be used to evade the more primal beasts to some degree, much like the one he killed within the hideout, much like the one that Misha and Izurin were ambushed by after our separation.

Beyond that, we had hoped to test if it were possible to sever those interconnected by the flesh using our mana. We've had varied results with past subjects but the potential to use it to save similarly afflicted has been demonstrated. More definitively demonstrated is the potential to use this mana induced bond-severing as a form of attack against flesh beasts, such as those in the clinic, and/or make them more vulnerable to our attacks.

Writing and thanks for the votes! I will be attempting to get this update out tomorrow around 9-10pm PST, but it might be pushed back as I'm hosting a family member for the rest of today and tomorrow. I'll keep you updated as to what to expect!

>>5445846
Hey all, just a quick update to let you know that the update will indeed be postponed until tomorrow around the same time. Thanks for your understanding!

>>5445846

Accompanied now by the heavy silence and oozing outwardly between the weighty drops of blood of viscera that drop from both of your bodies, a palpable tension foments within his tissue of his body. Even now his sword still hangs in the air. The tense tail of a distressed creature, but more than that, with potent stinger ready to strike at shadowy threats. Shadows of the mind, shadows formed from doubt, shadows of the unknown, all that will weigh on his actions as you their burden.

You’ve already sowed the distant light of hope within his troubled mind, let it not be obscured.

A bit of instruction then.

You kneel close to the slain abomination to study the individual body parts of the whole. “What do you believe will happen to these the bodies of those who’ve met their end here?” You gently manipulate the blood-covered and sunken amalgamation of flesh. “A family of no less than five, and the Devan that shared the punishment.” Your eyes find his in the low light and he turns immediately from you.

“Someone should retrieve them and bring them back to town.” His breathing still heavy from his strike, and he shakes his head as if not fully believing the idea himself. “It’s not right to simply…”

His words trail off as if experience has already taught him that such privileges aren’t always possible.

“Should.” You let go of the abomination before straightening yourself and stepping toward him. “I agree that’s what should happen. If circumstances allowed for such kindness, I wouldn’t be opposed to burying them myself… I’ve done it before.” You stop with the point of his sword mere inches from your stomach. “Bodies are heavy to transport, holes are difficult to dig, and frozen ground doesn’t lend itself to either task.”

“Far too many left improperly buried, or not all.” The tips of his fingers push against the space in between his eyes. “What now then?”

Your arm points back to the fallen abomination. “If they are left here, decay will rapidly set in until some voracious flesh creature comes along to consume them. That is almost a certainty from what I’ve seen of the primal beasts’ appetite.”

His eyes filled with disgust but also resignation rapidly dart between various parts of your body and his sword before he sighs wearily and cleans his blade on his coat sleeve. “Is that a hint at your answer? We carve them up to make use of their bodies.” He sheathes his longsword once clean from most of the blood.

He’s a quick study. Not as quick as his friends, but he has the benefit of understanding these bizarre circumstances better due to his own long-standing fascination with magic. A characteristic that may still be leveraged.

>>5448406

“You understand well what needs to be done.” You nod before returning to the abomination’s corpse. You use his knife to slice at one of the protruding chunks of flesh you noted earlier. “I want to make it clear that their suffering wasn’t my intention, nor do I choose to desecrate their corpses without sufficient reasoning.” The connective tissue making up the core of the abomination is quite fibrous, making it difficult for you to slice through. “To that end, I’ve made use of cuts of flesh to evade far more terrifying flesh beasts than the one you slew within the hideout. For those of us without robust bodies we must use whatever we have available to us, especially when ambushed.” You nod toward the two most vulnerable members of your party who have returned closer after the commotion ceased.

All that Misha had available…

You sense Luca approach behind you. You sigh aloud while turning to him.

He motions for you to step aside before extending his open palm. “You’re even smaller than she is. Give me my knife before we’re here forever.”

You glare at his averted gaze before using his blade to easily bisect the lower half of the infant you separated earlier. “Here.” Once finished you place the handle of his dirk back into his open hand and direct him to the easiest cut. “Finish this arm and that will be enough.”

With the dirk returned, he kneels to set himself to your assigned task. “That baby… You never said what you were aiming to accomplish with…her.”

“Separation.” You respond flatly as you open your pack to place the two small chunks of flesh along with the others.

Now that you’ve ventured away from the frigid cold, the putrid scent of decay is beginning to waft from the pieces of Okymto that you have stuffed in your pack. The new additions steadily drip blood into the tattered clothing you lightly wrapped them in.

>>5448431

“Several times I’ve witnessed my mana have an effect on the Sanctuary’s flesh creations that suggests it may be possible to separate those interconnected by flesh like they were.”

Luca’s eyes settle upon the puckered wound from which the infant was severed. “The result didn’t seem too promising.”

“That perspective is too limited, Luca.” You shake your head as you stand over him finishing his cutting. “The potential of separation has been demonstrated, albeit not definitively. But more than that, this application of mana demonstrated an alternative means of creating a vulnerability in the physical forms of their flesh creations.”

He performs the last cut before standing with the severed arm. “Vulnerability…You mean to attacks?” He holds the arm out for you to receive.

“You’re a fast study when you keep your composure, or perhaps when it comes to protecting a certain someone.” You remark with raised eyebrows as you relieve him of the third piece of flesh you’ll add to your stock. “Now, time to keep moving. We may yet see exactly what this abomination was headed towards.”

A concrete answer paired with a vague answer extends credibility.

You begin to head off to the flickering torchlight before overhearing a slight whisper from Luca.

“I’m so sorry magic did this to you.”

~

>>5448464

Based on your time and rate of travel, you place your group approximately halfway to the Maturation Pit.

Progression has been far faster now that your group has acclimated to traveling within the sewer tunnel. The acrid and sulfurous gases of the decomposing waste are easier to tolerate than the bitter cold, and in this second venture you’ve noticed small, interconnected ventilation tubes occasionally built into the rounded stone. Most interwoven clusters are blocked by the heavy layers of snow blanketing the surface, but some allow for a valuable exchange of air that give your companions a second wind.

But it is when your human companions are briefly pausing to catch their breath when you hear the distant footfalls.

You turn toward the noise coming from tunnel behind you.

Your animal ears carefully discern the steady jog of a single figure familiar with traversing this passageway, but a sporadic sloshing that falls out of rhythm with the footfalls suggests more than the single ambulant pursuer.

“Someone is approaching from behind.” You quietly warn your companions that have already begun to pick up your sudden focus toward the path you traversed. "It's likely some type of flesh creatures are present as well."

Luca and Seo quickly reposition themselves toward the source of approaching footsteps before picking up on the echoes themselves.

You fall back to cover the northern approach while eyeing the openings to the network of rusted tubes built into the sewer walls. Certainly not large enough for any one of you to squeeze through, but something smaller may be able to take advantage and infiltrate your formation.

Luca quietly drawing his proceeds the sudden voice of the one approaching. “You thinK we can’T see you in the lighT of your own flame?”

A voice belonging to a cruel woman you haven’t encountered since the day she slammed you into the hard, frozen ground.

“She’s a Sanctuary enforcer.” You push closer to the front and your warning puts the others further on guard.

Two small discs of reflected light eerily appear at the fringes of your flame before Liladyne and her illuminated eyes come fully into view. Her face snarls with pure with pure contempt.

She opens her anger twisted mouth to speak. “Ahhh. The FleshaPer’s information was good after all. A bunCH of Trapped raTs poking around in the sewers.” She stretches her neck, leaning to peer between the members of your group. “There she is… Elly. The one Causing us so muCH FucKing Trouble.”

>>5448466
hm. If Dawn's Blessing can focus to restrict only a single portion, can we get Liladyne to behead herself?

>>5448466

How did the Fleshaper know that you were headed toward the Maturation Pit? How much do they know of your plans?

Before you engage in combat, you’ll try to use her anger to get the information out of her.

You smile slightly. “You were the one who thought I was a troublesome girl from the very beginning. Perhaps the fault lies with you that I was able to interfere with your plans as much as I have?”

“You liTTle shiT.” A glint of light reveals the presence of her razor thin sword. “Nothing would make us haPpier than to skeweR you from cunT to cheeKy eye.”

“My aren’t you a pleasant one.” Seo takes a step forward with mace drawn to mirror the way Liladyne hold her sword. “Although, I suspect this the hospitality one should expect when so far removed from civilization. However, kudos to you for the attempt to dress a little civilized with that…eclectic choice of clothing.”

Luca chortles as he shakes his head. “Leave the poor girl alone. She probably scrimped her whole life to afford that hand-me-down coat.”

Liladyne’s breaths come shaking from the anger rising in her chest. “Nobles.” The word oozes from her mouth. “We Can see iT by the way you Dress, and hear iT in the way you speaK. You Two, we’ll Kill slowly. Or maybe, we’ll leT them put you Two together with a filthy Devan like that family you all KilleD.” The glint of light shakes from the fury building within her. "ThanKs for that, by the way. It made finDing you all more easy..."

Incensing her to speak is far too easy, but you doubt you she'll let you do it for much longer before attacking. Perhaps one more question, but what information should you try to extract from her?

>Provoke her about being foolish for coming alone, in order to ascertain what creature or creatures were accompanying her before you engage in combat.

>Provoke her regarding abandoning her fellow Sanctuary members on the surface, in order to learn more about how the Fleshaper directed her to follow you.

>Write in.

>>5448469

A very interesting application of the spell! But please keep in mind that the previous flesh abomination was slow moving and further hindered due to the slippery viscous fluid.

>>5448474
>Provoke her about being foolish for coming alone, in order to ascertain what creature or creatures were accompanying her before you engage in combat.

I think I already know how they found us. Enais has that Suffering-sense, and killing the fleshball probably sent up a beacon on that like nothing else would.

For combat plan, how about Elewyn attempts to light up the whole hallway with a Brilliance, while Luca and Seo go for a high damage Pursuer on Liladyne. With the light behind them, could give a bit of a flashbang effect like attacking out of the sun, and would expose other attackers.

>>5448474
>>Provoke her regarding abandoning her fellow Sanctuary members on the surface, in order to learn more about how the Fleshaper directed her to follow you.
>>5448721
An interesting theory, but one that Ii'd prefer to confirm, as it could mean a lot for our escape. Besides Elewyn has already met creatures moving through the sewer walls, so we shouldn't be surprised this way. Since I also don't believe Liladyne would have taken the time to send someone or something to come up behind us, let alone with proper timing, that leaves us with a straightforward engagement, which we'll have to take anyway, so the knowing ahead of time wouldn't do much to our tactics.
>>5448480
So, did we also get a more number-crunchy idea of how Dawn's Blessing can be used against the flesh-beasts? Both as a repellent and as a weapon buff?

>>5448778
I don't think we ever established that Dawn's Blessing worked as a weapon buff.

>>5448474
>>Provoke her regarding abandoning her fellow Sanctuary members on the surface, in order to learn more about how the Fleshaper directed her to follow you.
can't tunnelvision while down here

Heyo everyone, I hope you're enjoying the dancing skeletons if you're reading this the same day it's posted.

Some interesting theories and potential combat tactics to read through, so let's see what we have!

>>5448778
>So, did we also get a more number-crunchy idea of how Dawn's Blessing can be used against the flesh-beasts?
The resulting number differences (in combat) would depend on the individual(s) to which Dawn's Blessing is applied, so I can't give you specifics at this moment. However, since it's an effect on the flesh creature itself, it would manifest as a lowering of physical resistance of the afflicted flesh creature, rather than as a weapon buff. Behavior differences also vary, which could indeed include aversion, but certainly isn't limited to that...

>>5448778
>>5448866
We will provoke Liladyne toward revealing more about how the Fleshaper directed her to follow you and your companions.

>Writing! Update to be posted tomorrow around 8-9pm PST. In the meantime, Happy Halloween!

>>5448474
I was thinking of provoking her into revealing which, if any nobles are backing them

>>5448995
Although I won't be able to work it into this vote, it's definitely worth keeping in mind especially given the thought that some characters have put toward this theory as well.

>>5448981

Icicles dangling from the precipices of tall buildings boldly shape themselves as prominent features atop their facades. The eye easily converges to their hazard, understands it, is made wary of it, and steps uneasily below it. However, any permanence that their unnerving stillness might suggest is the purest of illusions. The more the sun reveals the glint of these bared fangs of harm, the faster they reach their two predestined fates. That is, to be worn slowly into harmless husks, or come crashing into violent oblivion.

Sometimes all they need is the tiniest of pokes.

“Of course.” You smile with cloying warmth at the enforcer. “If we didn’t make it easy for you, you might’ve missed your chance to perform your actual duty. Much as you have for the past few days.”

The heel of Liladyne’s boot grinds roughly against the stone. “We were aTTenDing To other DuTies…” The words carry on hatefully exuded breath. “If we had CrosseD Paths insTead of thaT uselesss Byrne, we wouldn’t have To listen To your annoying sQuealing now.”

You rest your hands on your hips. “Or perhaps it would’ve been you that your companions had to scrub off the floor?” You shrug and take a slow purposeful step forward as you speak. “But you weren’t there, were you? You weren’t in the one place you should’ve been as an enforcer, the one place you should’ve liked to have been...Why?” You turn your ear toward her mockingly. “Incompetence? That would certainly explain why you’re here instead of helping your brethren deal with the havoc taking place in town. Or cowardice, as I struggle see why someone would’ve ordered you here-“

File: ID16.png (1.33 MB, 1052x1444)

1.33 MB PNG

>>5450092

“We woulD liKe to see you sPeaK liKe thaT afTer we scraPe out your eyes…” Strange guttural vocalizations squeeze from her mouth as she slowly leans upper half of her body backward with arms outstretched. “We are here beCause the Lady FleshaPer did us suCh favor in Telling us what she learneD from the liTTle boy in your grouP. You were betrayeD, you insolenT, sniveling, aggravaTing liTTle shiT. She knew everything abouT your plan!”

"I-I..." Mishenne looks between you and others while stepping away with his back against the stone tunnel.

"Misha! Stay close!" Luca turns back to warn him, but keeps his focus on the the Sanctuary enforcer in front of him. "We can't see if you go too far with the damn light!"

The echoes of her shouts finish reverberating off the walls of the sewers as suddenly retracts into a hunched over position with thin blade at the ready. The shape of her body contorts as if something lurks underneath the skin ready to emerge. Her body regains its usual shape before she speaks again. “Oh, we weren’t supposed to tell you that…Whatever. When the rest of you are killed, it won’t make a difference, but you.” Her head raises to an impossible angle, and she stares at you with the dimming flame reflecting in glimmering eyes. “All the hate we carried since growing up in this miserable town...We're going to carve into your skin!"

Her body snaps into back into a human shape as she jumps back with a sudden burst of speed. She lands a few feet back in the darkness before she bolts forth with her thin sword trailing behind her.

Her animalistic agility carries her toward your group as you hear the ventilation tubing above your group thumping with sudden movement from within.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Sanctuary enforcer Liladyne charges directly at your group with primal fury and speed, while the sudden reverberations above your group suggests that she's not alone in her assault. Her speed will certainly be a factor to contend with. Meanwhile Mishenne is shaken up by her sudden revelation and is currently not responding to commands.

(Light MP regen from warm and stable conditions is balanced with the MP usage from earlier.)

Elewyn
HP: 11
LP: 15
Stamina: 13
MP: 19

Luca
HP: 24
LP: 8
Stamina: 24
MP: 0

Seo
HP: 12
LP: 6
Stamina: 28
MP: 0


Misha
HP: 13
LP: 4
Stamina: 12
MP: 0

>Write in movements/actions for Elewyn, Luca and Seo.

>>5450112
>Throw some smelly meat at her. She can be overly cautious, get further distracted by the smell, or maybe we can interfere with command over the ambushes a bit.

>Luca
>Offensive Parry

>Seo
>ready a Smash on whatever comes out of the tubes
I'm not expecting a specific hit on a bodypart, especially without confidence on the anatomy of said ambusher.

I'd prefer to stay in the light. We could potentially use brilliance to surprise her while chasing her into the dark, but I'd rather not.

>>5450112
I'm gonna reiterate my plan from before
>Cast Brilliance to blind enemies and reveal any incoming, then move forwards

>Luca and Seo tag-team Pursuer on Liladyne while she's dazzled

Yell at Misha to Move, hopefully snap him out of whatever funk he's in. Maybe Izurin can tackle him out of the way, or something.

I want us to force the opponents to react to us by charging and trying to take Lila out of the fight. Sitting here and reacting to whatever else comes for us is just going to let them execute whatever plan they have for a coordinated ambush.

>>5450112
Might as well use what we learned!
My first plan was to have everyone back off so all our opponents would be in front instead of rampaging through our formation. But distances wouldn't allow it, so attack it is.
>Elewyn to use Dawn's Blessing actively. Whatever is in the vent may be primal enough to recoil from it instead of going for cheap hits on Izurin and Misha, and I'd like to see it's actual effects in combat sooner rather than later.
>Luca and Seo use Pursuer on a hopefully thrown off Liladyne.

While I would have liked to keep the Pursuer in reserve for the very likely second phase, I've learnt my lesson from the Manticore fight about not going all out when we can, so let's have at it!

>>5450449
I don't think dawn's blessing will hit well on a fast moving, non consenting target. It'd be playing our hand too early.

Rolled 1 (1d3)

Heyo everyone, hope your week has been going well. A little bushed from the day, but definitely ready to see what sort of combat strategy we have developing.

Elewyn first....Since the three actions presented are distinct, we'll roll 1d3 to decide for her this round.

>>5450126
>Throw some smelly meat at her. She can be overly cautious, get further distracted by the smell, or maybe we can interfere with command over the ambushes a bit.
=1
>>5450331
>Cast Brilliance to blind enemies and reveal any incoming, then move forwards
=2
>>5450449
>Elewyn to use Dawn's Blessing actively. Whatever is in the vent may be primal enough to recoil from it instead of going for cheap hits on Izurin and Misha, and I'd like to see it's actual effects in combat sooner rather than later.
=3

Rolled 9, 6 = 15 (2d10)

>>5450821
We'll use a single piece of the more decayed flesh to throw at her. As it will take a moment for her to retrieve the piece from her pack, this action will take place after the first potential exchange of blows.

Next up!

Liladyne will loudly signal to some unknown target, and also throw a barbed knife at Misha.
>Rolling 2d10 to see if the knife connects. (CR 6, increased due to angling around Seo)

Rolled 1, 2, 5, 4 = 12 (4d10)

>>5450828
The barbed knife will indeed strike Misha, but before any effects from that take place...Luca and Seo to act.

>>5450331
>>5450449
Majority in favor of Luca and Seo using the combo attack Pursuer on the Liladyne.
>Stamina Cost: 13 for both Luca and Seo
Rolling 4d10(first two to Luca, last two to Seo) to see if hit connects (CR 8 to connect)
Total Physical Amplification if Connected: (18+18)*1.5=54

Rolled 3 (1d5)

>>5450831

Luca misses, but Seo connects with a Discerning Bash, now rolling to see if physical resistance penalty will apply to Liladyne.

>Rolling 1d5, 1 or 2 result in permanent -1 Physical resistance on Liladyne

Rolled 2 (1d4)

>>5450836

Unfortunately, no physical resistance penalty will apply.

Finally, rolling 1d4 to see if Izurin will catch the torch that Mishenne drops. 1,2, or 3 result in a catch.

>>5450838

The torch is caught, and the light is saved.

Lots of action resulting from all of this, so thank you all for your proposed strategies!

>Writing, update to be posted tomorrow around 8pm PST!

>>5450828
So about getting misha a shield....

>>5451716
It certainly wouldn't be out of his budget!

>>5450843

You’re keenly aware how the Sanctuary’s manipulated flesh could slink between the rough gashes and pitted pores of the moist stone. Any dripping orifice presents the opportunity to discharge a heated and raving bundle of hostile meat, and your animal ears warn you that you should expect company from above soon.

It's a unique angle of attack that wouldn’t be available to the gorehounds, especially with their size, but one that you suspect can be deflected by a battle-tested method.

While keeping your eyes upon the incensed enforcer, you move immediately to pull your meat-laden pack off your body to secure one of the reeking cuts of Okymto.

Luca and Seo turn to each and communicate the entirety of their battle plans through a single nod. Immediately, they dash forward to counter Liladyne’s charge. In a few quick paces, Luca pulls ahead, his weighty footfalls drowning out all other noises in the long tunnel. His weapon locks upon his left shoulder before he fiercely pivots his mass to slash at the approaching enforcer. The glint of his longsword catches the ebbing light, as it carves a well telegraphed downward arc. Luca’s large frame twists into his attack and the lethal steel demands a great deal of space if your desire is not to share it.

Easily read, but you see that is the intended opening. His left hand already departs from the hilt of his sword readying itself to grab wherever Lildayne chooses to dodge and lock her in place for a brutal follow-up attack. He knows she must evade or suffer the violent attack, but Luca doesn’t anticipate her chosen angle.

The enforcer deftly plunges beneath the arc of steel to slide atop the slick stream of filth. She skids, kicking up a small swell of sludge as she reaches to retrieve a vicious barbed dagger. By the time she springs from the ground, Luca’s hand finds nothing to grab and Seo digs her heel hard into the ground to change her course of attack. Your companion expected to make grievous impact a few steps further ahead and she must settle for one-handed strike if she hopes to catch the evasive enforcer.

The enforcer twists her body to push past Seo and slings her dagger forward. At the same time Seo uses what remains of her momentum to drive her mace into the Liladyne’s back. The hard note bludgeoning of steel against meat melodizes with the barbed fang sinking into Mishenne’s hip. The torch drops from his hands as he instinctively reaches for the dagger in a panic. His breaths come as rapid whimpers as he watches a stream of blood flow down his leg.

File: FW1.png (1.83 MB, 1100x1241)

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>>5451782

Spotting the dropping torch, Izurin dives across the feculent ground to barely save the light from being extinguished within red-brown broth that has splashed over her body.

The enforcer turns in fit of outrage toward the unexpected attack. “We know you’re a noble playing with weapons with how pathetic that swing was. If it were us, your pretty little head would be caved in.”

Seo recovers from her sudden burst of force while keeping her hard gaze upon her enemy. “An irate commoner with grudge against nobles…” Her breaths come quick as she repositions her mace. “Why don’t you save your breath for fighting because you’re not going to say anything a million others haven’t more eloquently.” Seo grimaces as her hand free hand reaches for her stomach.

“Oh?” Liladyne voice an equal mixture of amusement and rage. “We know that look. The poor little noble a have a knot in her stomach from how hungry she is?” She kicks the murky filth at Seo. “You’re weak! You’d be dead if you had to deal with the hunger we had our whole life in this shit stain of a town! Dead from the cold, dead from the maddening nothingness because you’re just a weak little girl too far from mommy and daddy.”

Seo forgets any pain that resides inside her to ready her mace in both hands. “There are other ways to get you to stop your self-pitying babbling.”

“Now you’ve done it…” Luca quietly warns the enforcer as he positions himself again near his friend.

You ready the piece of stinking meat as you hear the rumbling above you grow even louder.

Liladyne holds out her thin blade. “We have no pity. We do what we need to get out of here, and we enjoy it. Now we’ll enjoy killing you!”

She signals once more with a loud whistle, and two flashes of pink mass burst from the tubing above you.

Now!

You hurl the putrid piece of flesh at the distracted back of the enforcer and it makes the briefest of impacts before the one of the coils of exposed tissue sinks its savage fangs into its master to catch the delectable meal.

Liladyne shrieks in pain and indignation. “You absolute fucking idiot!” She shouts at the wriggling worm of flesh already digging into its meal. “We’ll slice you up for the last time once this is taken care of, dear cousin…”

The other flesh worm makes landing on the ground to your side and rises on the mantle of its long body to bare its dripping fangs at you. The creature resembles a human stripped of its skin and limbs to the basest of forms. Thin sinew coated bones pulsate threateningly along the length of its exposed moist tissue. It waits for the most opportune moment to strike and join its counterpart in a meal. The beady dark eyes flick between you, Mishenne, and Izurin.

File: ID17.png (1.45 MB, 1045x1618)

1.45 MB PNG

>>5451802

Your own eyes carefully scan between the three enemies that now share the tight and stinking sewer with you and your companions. The flesh worm you baited appears perfectly content to finish its meal for a short while longer, but the other will strike at any moment. Liladyne stands similarly poised as the primal monster to attack, seemingly contemplating who to unleash her growing ire upon as her battered body undulates more rapidly from something lurking beneath the surface...

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Liladyne is heavily injured, but is in well enough condition to remain quite threatening. One of her flesh worm pets is highly unlikely to attack this next round if not provoked, but the other seems quite fixated on sinking its teeth on target it has in view and will not be distracted as easily as the other was.

The combatants of your team stand ready, but Misha is actively bleeding from his wound.

(Four pieces of flesh remain,)

Elewyn
HP: 11
LP: 15
Stamina: 13
MP: 19

Luca
HP: 24
LP: 8
Stamina: 11
MP: 0

Seo
HP: 12
LP: 6
Stamina: 15
MP: 0

Misha
HP: 8
LP: 4
Stamina: 12
MP: 0

>Write in movements/actions for Elewyn, Luca and Seo.

>>5451813
This is....suboptimal.

>Luca knifes Lila and the worm threatening elewyn
>Seo leg smashes Lila
>Elewyn casts brilliance to set up for a Dawn's Blessing

>>5451813
Yep, goodbye formation. I'll admit the meat worked better than expected, though. Now to fix this.
>Elewyn uses a Gale to punt the threatening worm into the wall, angling to send it "up" towards Lila, Luca and Seo.
This would leave all our enemies in one block. Not the best, but a marked improvement over a scrambled formation where they can strike at our more vulnerable members as they wish. Depending on how you choose to interpret this and the relative directions, this could also require using a directional Gale for 3MP, since Elewyn is a bit too forward to angle the Gale properly, and I really don't want a straight Gale to send the thing further away in the dark, since it'd split our focus and leave Elewyn, Misha and Izurin very vulnerable.
>Luca uses daggers on both Lila and the threatening worm, leaving the feasting worm well alone.
>Seo uses the distraction to go fro a Head Crush on Lila.
I want to know how being stunned could affect the second phase triggering.
>Misha uses his now free hands to stem the bleeding, provided he has something to bandage the wound.
Blood loss isn't going to help his lockpicking skill, and we have to think about rationing heals.

>>5451813
Well, now if we want to go for a Brilliance, we're flashbanging our own team because the enemies are between us and them.
>>5452011
I like most of this plan, but we can just punt the free worm down into the dark and distract it with flesh pieces while it's trying to get back into the fight. And hopefully we'll be done with Lila's second form by then.
Supporting

>>5452011
>>5451908
I guess gale is better for less friendly fire. I was kinda okay with blinding everyone and letting Elewyn do the final hit tho

>>5452028
Not keen on throwing away limited items like that, especially to save on a couple points of mana. Besides, this one hasn't fallen for the trick once already, and I really don't want it gnawing at our non-combatants.
>>5452038
I can't remember if the QM said that Elewyn didn't want to use the staff as a bonking stick. It might have been for some different use, though.

>>5452151
I meant Dawn's blessing. A staff bonk would not be quite so effective.

Rolled 4, 5 = 9 (2d10)

Heyo everyone, hope all your weeks went well. I'm back home ready to start the weekend and see what strategy we have for the ongoing battle.

>>5452151
>Elewyn didn't want to use the staff as a bonking stick.
For almost every scenario, this is indeed correct. (I think that was a call back from the first full thread, wow.)

>>5451908
>>5452011
>>5452028

Between the plans put together in your votes, we have clear cut decision to have Luca use his Fanned Blades on Liladyne and the non-distracted worm. However, as the setup of this action is dependent on the positioning of the worm, we turn to Elewyn's action.

>>5452011
>>5452028
We have two votes in support of punting it away from the non-combatants, but to do so with Elewyn would require a Gale. That said, given her proximity to the worm, I can imagine a fairly straightforward movement for Elewyn such that a regular 2MP Gale, will accomplish the desired result.

So, let's see what happens.
>Elewyn to reposition and cast a very close range Gale on the nearby flesh worm.
Rolling 2d10 to see if it connects. (CR 4, lowered due to proximity)

Rolled 2, 10, 10, 5 = 27 (4d10)

>>5452525
>Elewyn expends 2MP to force the flesh worm away from the non-combatants.

Back to Luca...

>Fanned Blades on the Liladyne and the recently Gale'd fleshworm.
Stamina Cost: 3
4 flat damage to both targets it connected. Rolling 4d10, first two dice for the worm(CR 4, reduced from recent Gale), 2nd pair of dice for Liladyne. (CR 8)

Rolled 6, 8 = 14 (2d10)

>>5452526
A nice set of healthy rolls ensures that both blades connect to their intended targets.

Next up is Seo,

>>5452011
>>5452028
>Press the attack and strike with a Head Crush on Liladyne.
Stamina Cost: 6
Physical Amplification if Connected 1.2(18) = 22 (rounded up)
Rolling 2d10 to see if connected, CR 11 (raised from skill usage)

Rolled 2 (1d5)

>>5452532
Very nice!

Now I get to roll 1d5 to see if the stun engages. (1 = stun)

>>5452537
Unfortunately, no stun, and Liladyne will be...preoccupied this turn.

Misha and Izurin to do their best to attend to the bleeding wound. The other flesh worm will finish the snack you provided it.

>Writing! Update to be posted tomorrow around 8pm PST. Thanks everyone!

>>5452541

In a time long past, you gazed upon a great body of water almost mesmerized by its utter stillness. It beckoned you to swim within it, yet hesitation left you at the shore. Upon lingering long enough, you caught a ripple emanate from its core and spread across the entirety of its colossal façade to eventually lap at your feet. The fleeting shadow of what gave rise to the wave retreated into abyssal depths.

The Sanctuary offered the means for Liladyne’s flesh to better reflect atrocious spirit, and now what writhes beneath is far more her than the female form that stares hatefully, wanting you to step closer and become prey. She desires nothing more in this moment than to see you suffer, and such desire is easy to exploit.

Ah, you understand now. It’s not you who stands upon the edge of that shore currently…

You laugh to yourself as you finish assessing your next move. “To do such a thing to your own flesh and blood… The Sanctuary must have been very generous to you.” You nod subtly to your companions behind her, while appearing to address the enforcer.

The Fleshaper has known of you at least since the time you came across her in the guild hall ten years past. To send Liladyne with only a pair of flesh worms with her tells you the Fleshaper had no intention of wanting to stop you. She wanted this enforcer to die... Annoying to be forced to play into her unknown designs, as Liladyne certainly won't relent in her attack. But you know now that Liladyne was not meant to share that information with you. You'll have words with Mishenne once you're able to get to the root of all this.

“The Sanctuary only helped us take what we always wanted, you little shit. Just like these two did from us…” She snarls looking between the flesh worms in agitation. “Now we’ll take your-“

You let out another bemused laugh as your eyes now quickly trace the path of your next few steps. “You’re a fool. One led about the nose by your own desires until they’ve led you here to die in a pool of excrement!” Your words are barely finished before you dash to put the flesh worm between you and your companions.

You raise your staff just as the flesh worm rapidly sidles to follow your movement. A fierce gust of wind emerges from the tip of your staff just as it lunges its coiled body forward to sink its long fangs into you.

Your wind howls as it travels toward both ends of the sewer tunnel carrying the flesh worm and tossing violently against the stone wall. The humans in front of you are all forced to brace against the wind. You're quick to relent the flow of mana and beast drops with a dull thud near Luca.

Once they’ve recovered from the torrent of wind and wastewater, Luca and Seo take advantage of the enforcer’s hateful fixation upon you to press in for an attack.

>>5453712

Liladyne is almost caught off guard, but she’s able to react with a shrill scream and vicious swing of her thin blade to temporarily repel your companions before they can get into striking distance.

As Luca drops backs, he pushes to one end of the tunnel while his hand reaches for the small blades ever kept on his person. He flings two blades with great strength directly into the flesh worm and Liladyne.

At the same moment, Seo charges along the other side of the tunnel from which she jumps and kicks off the stone to avoid the distracted flesh worm. Liladyne recoils from the blade sinking into her stomach and can only look up at the mass of steel dropping brutally upon her head.

You witness Seo’s mace cave in the lower part of Liladyne’s face with a sickening crunch and torrent of crimson dropping from the torn flesh. The enforcer’s body crumples to the ground immediately.

Seo lands unsteadily from her vicious attack, and her wide eyes are fixated upon the gory mess she carved into Liladyne. However, the aggressive writhing of the flesh worms quickly forces her to regain her composure and rise with mace ready to fend them off. Luca moves to reposition himself between you and the flesh worms.

The sudden burst of movement and violence is uneasily settled as even the flesh worms now twist upon the ground as if in synchrony with their mortally injured master.

Liladyne lies supine atop the stream of filth, dying as savagely as she lived. Her eyes roll back in her skull as her torso contorts her body into a painful arch. Her fists come down upon the stone beneath her with such force that the bones audibly snap and the skin peels away. All the while choked gurgles spill forth from her crushed jaw as hateful curses without form.

>>5453715
oh. Guess it's time for magic.

File: LF1.png (2.74 MB, 2003x1400)

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>>5453715

In your periphery, you notice Izurin applying a torn piece of cloth into Mishenne’s wound in order to help staunch the bleeding.

Luca looks to Seo at his side before sighing and stepping forward solemnly to end the enforcer's suffering. Suddenly, he stops in shock as both flesh worms suddenly surge forward at the same time a mass of tendrils emerge from the broken hole in Liladyne's face.

He falls back and raises his sword, ready to deflect the flesh worms’ attack, but instead charging at him, they pounce upon the body of their master. One’s needle like fangs sinks deeply into the spot directly between her legs, bloodily mangling the tender flesh there to burrow itself within her body. Her arm weakly tries to push the source of agony away but drops limp as the other flesh worm begins to tears into her stomach.

By the time Luca’s small blade falls out of her body, the transformation is well under way. Starting from the gory hole in her face and growing wound between her legs, a long rupture forms along the front of her body to meet in the center. Pink tissue emerges from the shredding skin, while steaming entrails and blood pour out the sides of her arched body. In the growing cavity of abdomen, the other flesh worm rapidly burrows itself and drives aggressively against her upper torso. The tension causes her ribs to snap into small, pointed shards which are pulled along with the transforming flesh. New limbs begin form from the added flesh pushing away from the core of her body. The three meld and metamorphose the young woman’s body into a new multi-limbed abomination with a horrifying massive maw front and center.

The new flesh beast falls back to the ground. One of the new limbs reaches for the fallen sword and the newly birth abomination begins raise itself upon the thin sword.

>>5453729
My immediate guess is to sever the limbs to cut down its reach and let Pursuer damage the main body without worrying about splitting up.

File: ID18.png (1.41 MB, 1003x1532)

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>>5453729
Both Luca and Seo step away from the flesh beast in shock, and turn to you while wearily holding their weapons at the ready.

As you hastily think of the course of action to take next, you notice two unfavorable things beginning to take place. The greasy fuel feeding the torch has begun to diminish as the light flickers more frequently and doesn't extend as far. At the same time, a flow of cleaner water originating from the north begins to push against your feet as it carries detritus from the path already traversed. Something from the surface is causing a rising surge of water into the sewers, and if it continues as it is, the sewers will eventually flood. Too long spent dealing with this creature and whatever may lurk ahead may leave you and your companions trapped in rising water.

You hurriedly gaze back into the yawning darkness, and then back to the flesh beast rising with sword at the ready.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Liladyne and the other flesh worms have combined into a single abomination which readies itself to attack you with sword and massive maw. At the same time, the water level in the sewer tunnel is rising from the north and will eventually pose a lethal threat if you're caught in the middle of the tunnel. Their yet remains a bit less than half the distance to traverse to the Maturation Pit and your torch will soon need replacing.

Misha is the only one that is substantially injured, but his bleeding has slowed due to Izurin's intervention and he will have calmed from his injury as a result. (Halved percentage rate of bleeding)

(Four pieces of flesh remain,)

Elewyn
HP: 11
LP: 15
Stamina: 12
MP: 17

Luca
HP: 24
LP: 8
Stamina: 8
MP: 0

Seo
HP: 12
LP: 6
Stamina: 9
MP: 0

Misha
HP: 7
LP: 4
Stamina: 12
MP: 0

>Write in movements/actions for Elewyn, Luca and Seo.

>>5453753

Oh, and you can now also write in actions for Misha as well!

>>5453753
Bah, arknights is still on my mind, I need to remember not to treat water as a corrosive hivemind.

>Elewyn use Dawn's Blessing as a cage to separate extremities from the whole.
>Pursuer on the main body

>>5453760
>Pursuer on the main body

Unfortunately, neither Luca nor Seo have enough stamina this turn for a Pursuer, but if they choose not to take any action other than movement for a turn, they will regain up to 1/3 of their total stamina (if they sprint for example, they won't regain as much.)

>>5453762
oh. Uh, do we know anything about how well the flesh creatures can survive underwater?

>>5453765
>do we know anything about how well the flesh creatures can survive underwater?
Good question! They are indeed still creatures of flesh and blood, and thus far have not appeared to have any adaptations to make them more suited to existing in water than their component pieces.

>>5453792
>>5453753
In that case

>Elewyn use Dawn's Blessing as a cage to separate extremities from the whole.
>Everyone casually makes their way south
Let it flop on the floor for a round and reveal new limbs to chop off.

>>5452525
>For almost every scenario, this is indeed correct. (I think that was a call back from the first full thread, wow.)
I reread everything when you announced you were coming back. Might have been the mansion slaver fight, since it was the first one where we had Elewyn really engaged in melee with the new rules. Actually, what prompted you to change them from the prologue, as that was more in line with what is done on qst?

Also, since we got Dawn's Blessing upgraded to have a passive, I'm assuming it doesn't actually do anything to fleshbeasts, since that would be far too good?

>>5453838
>Might have been the mansion slaver fight, since it was the first one where we had Elewyn really engaged in melee
It's quite the amusing contrast in combat locations with our current circumstances!

>>5453838
>Actually, what prompted you to change them from the prologue, as that was more in line with what is done on qst?
Another good question. Ultimately, the combat system that we have currently is, for the most part, what I had envisioned for the quest since its inception. But, the system is admittedly with its complications, so I wanted to ease into it over time.

(If you're still curious about the system itself, the structure of the combat system as designed stems from wanting to adapt the dynamic aspects of the combat system from Tera as much as possible in a written format, but also while maintaining a standard set of traditional rules associated with it for a consistent approach. (Overall, much easier said than done, and also constantly a work in progress!) At it's core, what I believe are the fundamental aspects of the combat from the actual game are dynamic movement(reactionary evasion is also huge), flexible skill usage, all driven by stats/numbers. I won't ever pretend as if that can all be perfectly replicated in text, but as I wanted to explore aspects of the world of Tera, I thought it'd be fun to try to adapt the combat too.)

>Also, since we got Dawn's Blessing upgraded to have a passive, I'm assuming it doesn't actually do anything to fleshbeasts, since that would be far too good?
I think it'd be good to clarify that there hasn't been any recent changes to Dawn's Blessing, and any spell/skill changes would be announced in the thread. However, as you deduced, you should expect a difference in effectiveness when either version is used upon flesh beasts. But, both versions will definitely have an effect.

>>5453858
>>5453753
Well then we might as well make sure Dawn's Blessing is passively active before we do this, then, assuming it wasn't already by default?
Beyond that, I don't mind us pulling back towards the pits to be able to let a Pursuer out next turn. Could we have Luca stay in the front to tank an eventual attack? For that matter, how would him blocking an attack affect his stamina regen? I don't even want a defensive parry, just make sure he doesn't take the full damage of Liladyne's next attack.

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>>5453753
I suggest the traditionally effective stun it, then hit it until it dies
>Elewyn casts Sundowning on the conjoined beast, to stun and split it again
>Luca uses Focused Thrust
>Seo uses Head Crush

Yes, it's MP intensive, but we can use MP now or potentially use MP on healing whatever injuries we take.
Sundowning against the Carrion beast before, if I'm remembering correctly, caused it to burn and break apart into some smaller things.

I'm also assuming the new Dawn's blessing offensive use we experimented with is mostly for use on helpless or otherwise unable to dodge creatures

>>5453928
>Well then we might as well make sure Dawn's Blessing is passively active before we do this, then, assuming it wasn't already by default?
I wouldn't start it by default as there is still the associated mana cost with either the active or passive versions.

>Could we have Luca stay in the front to tank an eventual attack? For that matter, how would him blocking an attack affect his stamina regen? I don't even want a defensive parry, just make sure he doesn't take the full damage of Liladyne's next attack.
Luca could definitely remain in front to intercept any attacks that might come. Also, I wouldn't want attacks received on resting turns to affect stamina regen as they wouldn't take away stamina on normal turns. This is provided that they aren't specially targeted to do so/the character isn't already very low HP, which would need to be evaluated on a case by case basis.

That said, a block without skill usage would, in my mind, be letting the armor (physical resistance) do the work, so I couldn't offer additional physical resistance from that. However, if it's additional physical resistance you're after, I might suggest letting Luca temporarily borrow Seo's buckler. (This would at the same time lower her physical resistance.)

>>5454272
>there is still the associated mana cost with either the active or passive versions.
Right, I just re-read the entry. The mana cost is listed before the active/passive bit, so it'd be 3MP regardless, but we can fire and forget for a minor buff, or focus Elewyn's action on it for the full buff. Got it.
>That said, a block without skill usage would, in my mind, be letting the armor (physical resistance) do the work
Right, and Luca has no skill option for just holding the sword like he would a defensive parry, just without the parry part. Shame.

I wonder if Aloé has a skill like that, something that is more reactive with a shield. Luca has his parry, but it's still an attack, while Aloé could be told to actually tank completely.
Does she have defined skills and we just didn't get her sheet during the slaver arc or was it up in the air?
If there was no skill, I'd like to share a basic structure for a "pure" tanking/blocking skill I thought of writing this, see if it's something you think would work within the quest.


Block/Brace/Deflect/Depends on weapon/shield used:
Cost: 2 stamina base+ 5 per attack blocked.
(random numbers)
Ready weapon to block oncoming physical attacks. Damage reduction: 70%.

Just some mechanics crafting. I like that this quest gives some love to support skills, so I want to do some thinking for tanking skills too!

>>5454340

>I wonder if Aloé has a skill like that, something that is more reactive with a shield. Luca has his parry, but it's still an attack, while Aloé could be told to actually tank completely.
Does she have defined skills and we just didn't get her sheet during the slaver arc or was it up in the air?

Yes, actually Aloé does have a set of defined skills that are much more traditionally tanky, even some that are magically influenced! I held off on giving out the skill sheet for her (and Philia) out of caution to prevent the first encounters using our combat system from being overwhelming with four characters to manage. Looking back, a tank, single damage dealer, and support might not have been too much of an ask to manage, but as I don't necessarily regret it as the quest was still finding its feet at the time.

>If there was no skill, I'd like to share a basic structure for a "pure" tanking/blocking skill I thought of writing this, see if it's something you think would work within the quest.
Thank you very much for your input! While there are already a few tanking skills floating around in my set of notes, ensuring that they still get their fair share of refinement the support and damage skills have already received is definitely important, so thank you for bringing this up as well. When they do come up again, I'll rely on you guys to employ them as creatively as you have with the others!

Rolled 10, 9 = 19 (2d10)

Heyo everyone, I hope your weekends have been going well, and to those with Daylight Savings, that you enjoyed the "extra" hour. This might have a minor effect on the time that you see the updates being posted if you're in an area that didn't make a switch.

Anyway, after a lot of good discussion, let's see what we have for our combat strategy for this round.

>>5453797
>>5453928
It seems that overall we're shoring up on our defenses as we make a tactical retreat to flee the rising water/allow our stamina to regenerate.

>Elewyn to cast and passively maintain Dawn's Blessing to increase resistances, and have a deleterious effect on the new Flesh abominations physical resistance and behavior in line with the strength of the spell.
>MP Cost: 3

All others continue to the south, with Luca holding off any attacks that come. (I will exchange Seo's buckler to him this round while he's intercepting any attacks. You can switch back without any time cost next round if you wish. This will increase his physical resistance by +2 for this round.)
So....now we roll for to see if a mauling from the flesh beast connects on Luca.
>Rolling 2d10 (CR 4)

>>5454532

Well, it certainly does connect...

>Writing outcome, please expect an update later tonight around 10pm PST!

>>5454532

While I was writing this update, I realized that there wasn't any reason that Elewyn couldn't have Dawn's Blessing channeled actively for this round, so I went ahead and wrote the update/ran the numbers with that in mind. Update incoming!

>>5454534

As the light of the flame wanes, the water will rise to eventually suffocate more than a few embers if you don’t act quickly. Though it would certainly suffer the same fate if caught trapped within the soon to be aqueduct, the only goal of the writhing gullet of fiendish teeth and contorting limbs is to dye the incoming flood a few shades more crimson and isn't likely to relent in the face of the water.

If caught with it, the spiked trap of a mouth is certainly large enough to encompass your frame in one mighty champ, but a small part of you is curious if those limbs still have the will to try to fulfill the hateful promise to skewer you on the long blade held within them.

Regardless if it does or not, it will have to keep up with you in order to do so. As for now, you’ll hastily move to address all ebbing concerns at this moment.

You confidently hold your staff in the air “We must press closer to the end of the sewer tunnel. For now, we retreat to the south maintaining our current formation.” At the flow of your mana, the veil of protective light billows from the tip of your staff to encompass your companions and the flesh abomination within its aura.

This immediately has the effect to greatly agitate the flesh beast as a substantial mass of its tissue forcefully rolls back in a hopeless to maintain full connection with its progenitor. It heavily drops onto the stone thrashing about in the water as its tissue painfully twists into an altered structure.

As the spell’s light settles into shape, you turn back to Izurin and Mishenne watching the aura form. “Run.”

Both Izurin and Mishenne solemnly nod in understanding before they set off toward the south as fast as Mishenne’s injured leg will take him.

The carried light of the torch begins to fade, and you and your two remaining companions are left with the soft light of your protective mana.

>>5454852

The flesh beast growls a plume of rising steam from its settling frenzy. The alteration has left inner tissue more exposed as the exterior has contorted upon itself. But its anatomy and ire are nothing like the amalgamation you tested upon earlier, and it soon begins to right itself upon its many limbs despite the transfiguration.

There’s not much more time the initial shock of the spell will buy the two you sent ahead. You’ll have to push for a few more precious seconds.

“We need to give them more time!” You firmly shout to the two young humans in front of you and in the face of looming flesh beast.

Seo’s vigilantly watches the beast advance with mace at the ready. “We can attack now, but we’ll need to regroup to catch our breath before we can finish her completely!”

Luca stoically looks back to the fleeing figures, then stops to gaze at the human at his side, before pushing a few firm steps ahead of her. Brazenly, he stretches out his arms to display the entirety of his imposing form to the abomination without hesitation.

“Here I am.”

The layered heat of his words lets all know that his announcement is for far more than the hateful beast in front of him.

Seo sighs, but not at all in disappointment or anger. However, she does forcefully shove the buckler ever kept at her arm into his side. “Did I ever tell you… that I hated when we came to the age where you started winning all of our wrestling bouts?”

“I was able to discern as much when you stopped asking for them all the time...” Luca smirks at her before quickly grabbing the offered plate of steel. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be.” Her resolved gaze is fixed upward at her lifelong friend. “Instead, push it back, just as I know you’re capable of doing.” She nods at the beast as warning.

He smiles at her the moment he finishes wrapping the straps of the buckler around his wrist. “An unreasonable request as always!” He lunges forward and braces to meet the suddenly advancing flesh beast. His attempt to pivot around it is cut short as the massive maw is too prodigious for him to outmaneuver and the outside of his arms are caught within its many teeth.

The closeness of the young human and the flesh beast keep either from using their blade, and it seems his plan is to preserve as much of his energy while dealing with the onslaught. You keep channeling your protective mana as Luca struggles to push out against the shutting trap of fangs. Blood leaks to his sides as he brutally pushes armored limbs into tender twisted flesh, but he endures, and eventually the abomination relents in frustration and releases him.

>>5454857

Sensing each other’s blades, they both fall back slightly before you firmly shout to take advantage of their mutual withdrawal. “Retreat now!”

Upon your order, the three of you immediately break for the southern path with the only the gentle gossamer of light to illuminate the path ahead.

It isn’t long before a chaotic splashing of meat against wet stone can be heard behind you as the flesh beast sets upon your group.

“Rubble to left!” You do your best warn the two behind you as your feet become increasing inundated with every step, taxing you especially with your smaller stature.

As you hurry away and keeping a watchful eye upon the tunnel ahead, your thoughts are occupied as to what the source of this sudden flow could possibly be. There are a few options that come to mind. The sea could easily fill the entirety of the sewers, but there’s absolutely no indication of an event that would’ve had the strength to move that much water, not to mention, you’d already have water up to your animal ears if it were coming from the great a body of water. Alternatively, a melting of the snow at the surface is another option, but you’d have thought it come from overhead as well via the ventilation chambers if that were the case. So, that only leaves one more body of water as the likely source of the growing pool you have the step through…

The river.

The northern entrance to the sewers is close enough to the river to be subject to any rising water and the current flow rate and direction all fall in line with that idea as well. But the question of what could be the cause of the water levels changing remains unanswered…

You were able to cover a good distance, but now the nearing light of the faint torch ahead of you warns of an impasse with your other companions and the flesh beast if not addressed immediately. With the water levels rising now past your ankles, it will be more difficult for all to maneuver the tunnel, but most so Izurin and Mishenne. Linger too long, and you'll be forced to swim to push ahead, greatly reducing your rate of travel and exposing you to other potential risks such as exhaustion. Ever behind you, the flesh beast will press certainly in for another attack the moment you relent in your retreat.

You hurriedly turn to evaluating the growing issues in order to develop a plan to best deal with them.

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>>5454883

___________________________________________________________________________________

You're currently slightly more than 3/4ths of the way to the Maturation Pit.

Rising water, dying flame, and the flesh beast still intensely at your heels, there are many concurrent issues to deal with. Once their torch extinguishes, Izurin and Misha will need time to make a new one before they can retreat ahead you, but there's no telling what might lurk ahead of them. All rate of travel will only slow as the water rises, and combat will be similarly affected. The increasingly hostile environment will punish mistakes on both sides.

Evasion will be lowered for both characters and enemies by -2, due to poor maneuverability in the rising water.

Dawn's Blessing is currently active, increasing your own resistances, and lowering the Physical Resistance of the Flesh Abomination by -3. (Will require mana to maintain.)

Elewyn
HP: 11
LP: 15
Stamina: 8
MP: 14

Luca
HP: 20
LP: 8
Stamina: 14
MP: 0

Seo
HP: 12
LP: 6
Stamina: 16
MP: 0

Misha
HP: 6
LP: 4
Stamina: 9
MP: 0

>Write in movements/actions for Elewyn, Luca, Seo, and Misha/Izurin(Optional).

>>5454895
okay, internet is finally back.

I'm still pushing to focus on the limbs. There's not much it can do as a flopping mouth, and we still need stamina to face the things in front.
>Elewyn uses magic to cut the limbs off from the whole and immobilize it.
>Everyone else advances down the path to take down whatever's waiting

>>5455178
I'm like 80% certain that we can't scalpel cut it to pieces with magic. It doesn't just sit there and take it, and we don't have like a holy light blade or some nonsense to aim for individual parts.

>>5454895
Well, now we've got stamina again, time to combo her to death with everything we've got. We'll hopefully regenerate some MP on our way up the sewers, and I'd like to get out of here before the water raises even more.
>Elewyn casts Sundowning
>Luca and Seo use Pursuer (If they can) on the beast while it's stunned.

>>5455274
Oh yea, and drop the Dawn's blessing to save MP

>>5455274
Dawn's blessing is a barrier. Just set the barrier to a target smaller than the actual creature. We don't need precision cutting here.

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>>5455281
Direct quote from the google doc character sheet:

Dawn’s Blessing: Channel stat enhancing aura focusing on protection: MP Cost: 3
Physical and Magical Resistance +2 (passive) +4 (active) as long as targets remain within 30 ft of caster.

I'm not sure where we're getting "This is a barrier" from

>>5455300
I'm reading it as a "protective layer over the body". Which, with the way that the flesh recoils away from it, can be used as a "protective layer INSIDE the body"

>>5454895
Is that the case? I'm been voting in this direction for the past week or so.

>>5454895
Oh, same day update!
>Luca loses 4HP.
Man, a little bit of shuffling the deck to get extra defense really does wonder, doesn't it?
>Sundowning leaves us at 4HP, not enough for a single heal.
Ah, damn it all.

>>5455274
Supporting the combo, if that thing isn't dead when we reach the Maturation Pit, not having enough healing available will become a very secondary worry.
I'll specify that we should drop Dawn's Blessing, the damage from Sundowning should help finish her off anyway, and we need to save costs. The stun means we can just cave her head in with default attacks next turn anyway if she keeps resisting, but I think it won't come to that.

Still, it hurts feeling like we can't outplay Sanctuary. Even now, Enais and associates are probably one or two steps ahead of us. We've probably thrown some wrenches in their plans, and may yet eke out a victory from a cobbled together rescue operation, but it just doesn't feel like it's going to be enough, unless we can take advantage of some flaw in their plan. Quite hard to do when we don't know it and can't get a leg up on them!

>>5455178
Glad to hear that your internet is back and working!
>>5455281
>>5455300
>>5455309
Barrier might be a bit strong for what the spell can accomplish. The past severing of flesh occurred with a portion of the immobilized flesh creature in a concentrated aura.

In more detail, the severing occurred in a manner similar to autotomy seen in those lizards that sever their own tails as means to escape perceived harm, in this case, flesh creatures from your mana. Similarly, it's also partially due to the weakened structural integrity of the integument/connective membranes of the flesh creature, as the aura of Thera-Yuugoth is blocked and therefore the connection that it currently maintains in its fragmented state to all its fragments is blocked. Summarily, given its particular predicament, the earlier flesh amalgamation extruded the piece of flesh in a desperate attempt to be free from your aura.

That isn't to say that you can't repeat the process and focus your aura(mana) on a more concentrated spot to strongly encourage such a severing reaction or make it far, far easier to do so with a weapon. However, the default diffusion of the spell that maintains the same distance/protection to your companions won't accomplish this, and instead the effects are reflected in a lowering of physical resistance. You could definitely try to focus on an area, but the creature itself is far more mobile/aggressive such that doing so will require it to be immobilized for at least a short time.

Hope this was of help, and I do apologize for any confusion that the results I wrote up for the Dawn's Blessing experiment might have caused!

>>5455429
>Oh, same day update!
Had some free time as the weekend was wrapping up, so I definitely wanted write up another update when I had the chance!

Going to leave the vote open for another 2 hours or so, as I'll be pretty occupied for that time.

See you in a bit!

>>5454895
>>5455178
Alright, I'll switch to >>5455274

I'm not too eager to burn that much MP, but keeping Misha alive won't require a full heal anyway.

Back and ready to tally what we have!

>>5455274
>>5455276
>>5455429
>>5455723
Unanimous support for a strategy involving a strong offensive against Liladyne turned Flesh abomination.

>Opening with Elewyn to cast Sundowning on the flesh beast. Costly, but its magical resistance doesn't prevent the stun from being effective and this spell certainly has demonstrated a destructive effect on flesh creatures in the past...
MP Cost: 10

>Not to mention that it will set up a Pursuer combo attack free of a dice roll.
Stamina Cost: 13 for both Luca and Seo
Total Physical Amplification if Connected: (18+18)*1.5=54

No dice rolled for the Flesh abomination this turn, and Misha and Izurin will remain within a safe distance as they prepare a new torch.

>Excited to write this aggressive set of tactics! Update to be posted tomorrow around 8-9pm PST.

>>5455802

Peril gnaws at your heels, it lurks within the yawning darkness of the tunnel you yet need to push through, and though you may be used to dwelling within its jaws, this time it threatens engulf more than just yourself.

Unlike your first passage through the sewer, there are others with you that need to be considered. The deal brokered for their help was one of protection, and at the rate of which the water has been climbing your body, you cannot reconcile leaving this creation of loathing and flesh unchecked.

You and thus the faint glow illuminating your retreat come to sudden halt. “It would be wise of you two to stand behind me…”

Your staff gingerly slides along your fingertips as you ready it for your next spell.

A sharp splash of murky water hits against the stone wall as Seo comes to a halt next to you. “Do you think it wise to be the one that stands against-“

Not even bothering to fully come to a stop, Luca forcefully grabs her by the upper arm and tows her behind you with sloshing footfalls. “You should know better than try to reason safety to her.”

“Trust me…” The light of your Dawn’s Blessing fades with your words leaving only the wild thrashing of the flesh beast to heard and not seen. Your animal ears twitch, measuring the remaining distance within the dark. “My safety isn’t the one you should be concerned about…”

Manifesting from nothing and gaining strength from your mana, flickering lights provide fleeting flashes of the flesh abomination’s horrific form. A glimpse of formidable jaws that would easily run through each side of your body to meet in the middle. A glimpse of contorted limbs, cravenly craving to tear off your own and run the long blade through what remains… And as the lights reach their crescendo and your mana invades the beast’s form, a glimpse of fear as it recoils far too late.

>>5456962

The scream that suddenly pours forth as the light of your magic fades transforms from a guttural utterance of sheer animalistic fury to that of a woman within profound pain.

The anguish leaves your ears stinging as it reverberates through the tunnel, but it certainly makes it easy to sidestep the crashing body even in the darkness.

Soon the inarticulate vocalizations give way to screeching acid of vitriol.

I’LL FUCKING KILL YOU! I’LL FUCKING KILL YOU, YOU LITTLE BITCH! I’LL FUCK YOU TO DEATH WITH MY SWORD FOR THIS!”

The sudden illumination of your staff reveals the rampant decomposition occurring from the constricted flesh beast. What used to be the crest of its maw has ruptured like overripened fruit to split into three pieces oozing their bubbling black juices. The two fleshy flanks of teeth-laden meat are wilting and receding into what will be their new forms, while a mangled version of Liladyne forms in the middle. A skinless, broken, and raw rebirth into the world.

You nod to both Luca and Seo who, eager not to gaze upon the profane birth taking place before them move in for a joint attack.

“NO! LET ME MOVE! LET ME MOVE AND FIGHT! LET ME FUCKING FIGHT! DON’T PIN ME DOWN! DON’T PIN ME DOWN LIKE THAT, FATHERRR-“

Luca’s longsword skewers the three separating pieces and rips into their insides as he heaves them all lower to the ground. The back of Liladyne’s exposed brain is poised bowing to you and Seo before she rushes through the pool of water with mace raised high. The steel drops down to splash a thick mist of crimson upon the surroundings as Seo smashes the organ into a steaming pulp. Luca finishes by violently tearing his sword free through the front of the three pieces of flesh, dropping them into the water with a large splash.

While the panting breaths of your companions and the dripping water are the only sounds to be heard within the sewer, the echoes of her rage still ring in your ears.

You catch her feebly moving within the stream that will soon be her final resting place. Her broken skull can barely raise above the surface of water now that she’s less than an echo of an echo of her former fury.
The glint of her thin blade is easy to find within your light. You quickly wade to pull it from the water and test its balance. “You were the first of the Sanctuary I found here, Liladyne.” You don’t hesitate to move toward her weakly retreating form. “In fact, us coming across each other put me on the path that eventually led here. So, allow me to return a favor long overdue…”
You calmly skewer the stem of her skull and forcefully plant her face to finally rest within the growing stream.

“Here’s some water for you.”

>>5456971

Much like you did on the surface with the snow, you carve through the water that now reaches to your thighs. In your hands, staff and sword push in synchronization with your lower half and balance your fatigued body. The fluctuating pulses of pain and grief make it difficult for you to focus on the dim path ahead, now illuminated with a torch held aloft by Seo as she supports Mishenne who now limps from the growing pain of his untreated wound.

You're finally nearing the Maturation Pit.

You gaze at Izurin, led through the water by Luca tightly holding her arm to keep her upright. He pants heavily, exhausted from the journey, and you've frequently been forced to stop so that he can catch his breath for a moment. He doesn't notice the Elin slumping in his grasp, her hair dipped into the flow, and feet dragging against the stone floor.

The conveyance of suffering from the tortured Elin is effecting her more intensely than you would expect for her level of injury.

You refocus through the harsh pulse of raw anguish to call out to the young human. "Luca...She's not able to walk any more."

It takes a few seconds for him to process your words, but he's quick to turn and pull the Elin out of the water. "What's wrong?! She didn't get hurt on the way here, did she?"

"It's difficult phenomenon to explain at the moment..." Each word requires exertion to finish. "She'll adjust to it, but it will take time. However, it means that we're close to the captured Elin, and we can make a push for the end-"

You stumble within the water and barely catch yourself with the help of your staff, which you grip tightly.

Only a little more. Help me as you always have...

"Are you both..." Luca hesitates to speak any further as he looks between you and Izurin.

"Don't worry about me. Hoist her on your back and keep pushing forward, all of you." Your eyes now focused on the tunnel ahead where beyond the sloshing of water of your companions you can hear the profound roar of draining water at the end of the tunnel.

File: ST3.png (2.39 MB, 1610x1657)

2.39 MB PNG

>>5457030

Upon your curt orders, they turn away from you and push ahead at an increased rate. You need not worry about the humans in the water as they all have a head or more in height than you, and soon enough the crashing flow is audible to your companions which gives them the willpower to make the final push.

As you near the cliff into which the torrent drains, a tradeoff of concerns occurs regarding the water flowing from the north. The stone sewer transitions into rough cavernous rock, and so too does the water level drop with the sloping ground. Yet by the same token, the velocity of flow rate increases and threatens to rip you off your feet if you're not methodical about your way forward.

"Hold on." You pant as you carefully pass your human companions to check if there is anyone to be heard moving about in the abyssal prison. To the west, you now notice a crumbling facade of rock blocking the perpendicular sewer path that you learned of from Hraska. If the flow of water doesn't abate by the time you need to make your escape, this may be the best path to take.

To the south lies the final terminus of the sewage draining into the sea. Depths that you've yet reached and, within the cavern below, the likely position of the brain of Thera-Yuugoth.

Alys...

You sigh and turn your head upward and toward the task currently at hand. The jutting rocks rise to converge upon the corroded and blood-stained drainage grate. Your animal ears detect no signs of anyone patrolling the torture pits, but if your last venture within is any indication, that certainly doesn't guarantee an uninterrupted rescue.

Now to the issue of climbing the rock face. It's not a significant climb by any measure, perhaps only two to three adult human body lengths in height, but any stumbles would lead to a dangerous drop into rapidly flowing water. From his current injury, Mishenne climbing unaided would certainly be a risk. Similarly, Izurin wouldn't be capable of making the climb until her current incapacitation to the outpouring of Elin suffering passes.

Normally, having Luca carry them up would be a straightforward solution, but he is also fatigued. If he had to make more than one climb, that would be time in which he is separated from the your group and thus unable to help in case you do face opposition. Regardless, Mishenne will have to be brought up first, as every second he has to disarm the traps holding the Elin are precious, despite how Luca might feel about leaving Izurin alone. There is still the healing potion that they brought to attend to Mishenne, and you sense that you have enough mana to provide a single spell of healing, but either would be a use of resources that needs to be considered carefully.

You contemplate the many factors for this infiltration before turning back to your companions.

>>5457063

___________________________________________________________________________________

Elewyn, Seo, and Luca are all capable of making the climb without any significant risk on their own. If Misha were to make the climb alone in his current status, he could potentially make it, but there would be a significant chance of him falling. Izurin is currently unable to climb as she's reeling from the outpouring of suffering of the Elin in the torture pits. Having Luca carry either of them, but given his current fatigue, this would add the chance of falling during his climb, as well as separating him from the group temporarily.

(There yet remains 1 Healing potion, 1 alertness potion, and 2 warming potions, and 12 caltrops.)

Elewyn
HP: 11
LP: 15
Stamina: 4
MP: 6

Luca
HP: 20
LP: 8
Stamina: 3
MP: 0

Seo
HP: 12
LP: 6
Stamina: 5
MP: 0

Misha
HP: 4
LP: 4
Stamina: 6
MP: 0

>Devise a plan to transport yourself and your companions from the end of the sewer tunnel into the torture pits.

>>5457067
Yeah chug that healing potion.

I'm considering a gale to carry Izurin with us. Unless we give her the alertness potion and hope that it gets her to focus on the task at hand.

>>5457067
I had considered giving the alertness potion to Misha since it should keep him up for the lockpicking, but then we'd have to carry him. Did we see how effective healing potions were in terms of healing range? I'm also thinking about being able to split it, unlike a heal. But it might not be as useful with certain types of wounds...and I'd hate for the dice to screw us over.

Re-reading, we have to find a way to get both up too. Maybe splitting the potion would work, then? Get some blood back in Misha and get Izurin conscious enough to lug her up?

Man, we really are doing badly for heals. I dread what we'e going to find up there. The only shining light is that we sabotaged the quicksilver, so that could have helped. Though I'm also wondering how high that water goes. What if Enais simply intends for the flood to take care of everything? The wall makes that unlikely, at least. Also, didn't think we were so close to the brain and Alys. Kind of figured we would have to go into the tower for something suitably dramatic!

We're just dowsing, really, and Elly and Izurin are the sticks.

Anyway I tried to read through the archives to see if anyone here had any rope to make a hoist or something, but no luck. The closest thing we have are people's coats and clothing. It's definitely better than nothing and much better than using hands to cling to each other, and would let the climber use their full strength with less interference. Hopefully this would let Seo carry someone perhaps, since it reduces the question of frame and muscularity.

Probably whoever's coat we take to use for that should take a warming potion, especially with the water all around. Luca's coat is the largest.

We have to run 2 risks here no matter what. I think it's best to have Izurin carried in a makeshift hoist by Seo if possible, Luca otherwise. Then if Seo is enabled sufficiently by the hoist, Luca carries Misha, and if she's not, then Misha just has to climb alone. The burden just has to be distributed as evenly as possible.
>>5457638
>Man, we really are doing badly for heals.
a lot of it is just that Seo and Luca just don't have the firepower to take care of flesh beasts on their own without Elewyn supporting them, and now she's seriously short of MP. She shouldn't spend any more except to prevent emergencies.

>>5457067
I'm thinking we want to get Misha patched up, as having him in peak condition is rather important.
>Healing Potion for Misha
>Alertness Potion for Izurin, to try and wake her up
If we have a rope, then whoever makes the climb first could drop it down and help the others up.
Alternatively, we could perhaps use Luca's knives at pitons, so the first person hammers in a couple of handholds.

>>5457712
I like the ideas set out here, and next time we're really needing some talks about some basic necessities for adventuring.

Seo has the most stamina of our party members, so she's up for leading up the cliff. Everyone else, take 5, then make the crossing. If the rising tide's too threatening, then one at a time, sending Misha, Elewyn, Izurin, and Luca, in that order.

>>5457712
Yeah, even with them being noble kids playing adventurers I would have expected to bring some rope and clean bandages, but no such luck. And Elewyn had to pack light, even with her disguise as a doctor's assistant. And she's still broke, I think. Saving the world on a shoestring budget, that's our motto I guess.

And yes, they're a good combo, and Luca's larger pool and defensive parry make him a halfway decent tank, but we've had to shell out heals recently, and Sundowning being so good yet so expensive is also a big drain. But really the bloody weather is what's doing us in, that and the time factor. What I wouldn't give for either camping equipment or a Tiny Hut or Magnificent Mansion from DnD! I don't have the full numbers, but I wouldn't be surprised if the bad weather was sapping upwards of half of Elewyn's mana regen, since it's being spent trying to prevent her losing extremities.


For what it's worth, we could just leave whatever potion we're going to use down there with Luca while we go and look to see if they don't have any sheets lying about?

Rolled 4, 6 = 10 (2d10)

Heyo everyone, finally back home from work and eager to dive into your strategies for how to get us into the Maturation Pit.

>>5457144
>>5457638
>>5457712
>>5457733
Essentially all of the camping gear was left on the horses, and their fate...


Anyway! The approaches and concerns you've all outlined here are fairly straightforward to synthesize into one nice cohesive plan. We will begin with our potion usage to help our non-combatants:

>Misha to use the Healing Potion to address his bleeding wounds and make his climb less risky.
and
>Izurin to be administered the Alertness potion to try to wake her up.

In addition to that, there was a lot of great improvisation for rope usage and climbing assistance. Put together from your plans, we'll have Seo climb first with Elewyn's coat fabricated into a rope as her coat is already in tatters and therefore easier to reshape. This won't extend the whole length of the climb, but will facilitate the last several feet after it is driven into the top of the rock with one of Luca's knives and her mace. The climbing order mentioned here: >>5457733 will be followed with Luca bringing up the rear.

Administering Elewyn the warming potion can be postponed as the Maturation Pit is far warmer than the sewer.

So, with this strategy put together, we need only roll once for the climb and that will be for Misha.
>Rolling 2d10 for Misha's climb. (CR 4, lowered from using the healing potion makeshift rope.)

>>5458072

Misha will make the climb on his own successfully.

The long awaited rescue is soon at hand. What might we face within the depths of the Maturation Pit?

>Writing! Thanks for all your input, and the update will be posted tomorrow around 8pm PST.

>>5458073

Here you stand facing the root of the Maturation Pit, a far distance from the precipice you stood when you first ventured here.

Delving the depths of the Sanctuary’s sins has felt a fathomless journey with every depraved secret exposed like thin skin peeling away from the blackest rot and decay. Digging through the dark seepage that leaks from the flesh and was borne from suffering you found yourself coming back to an all too familiar low point.

Within this abyssal structure, you’ve returned to where you started, trying to save your kin. Their broken and decapitated corpses have haunted you for over a decade, and you’ve now learned of the profane purpose the remainder of their bodies are to serve. Meat for the tissue of a nascent god…

Why?

You shake your head as you put aside that line of contemplation.

Answers may lie within the chasm below, but those above you have waited long enough for your return.

With clarity of thought, you carefully return to your companions and hold your hand out toward Luca. “Your potions.”

He gazes at your hand for a second before grasping some of your intention. After carefully maneuvering Izurin and rifling through his pack, he holds three different colored potions in his large hand. “These are the warming potions, this brings alertness, and this last one is for healing.”

You extract the healing solution from his fingers and then motion to the draft he indicated was for alertness. “That will help her come back to her immediate senses… rather than those she’s trapped within now.”

The young human’s brow furrows at your words before he sighs and returns the remaining phial. “An Elin thing, I suppose…”

Decidedly, you move toward Mishenne now, and offer the potion.

The human shrinks from your approach and nearly loses his balance doing so.

After a short sigh, you take hold of his wrist and lead him a few cautious paces away from his friends. He resists at first, but he gives way to your persistence. Behind you, you hear Luca step to intercept you, but Seo holds him back.

“He needs to speak on what the madwoman said..” Her words firm to keep Luca where he is.

>>5459381

You know Mishenne’s thoughts, you know his guilt, you know the weight of carrying such a burden. For now, you put aside any lingering unease about his lies to begin to settle this.

With the young human very much avoiding your eyes, you lean close to whisper to him. “Listen… Having witnessed as many wounds as I have, I’ve learned to decipher them well.” You gently grab the mangled opening in the front of his coat. “This wound divulged to me that you chose to stand and fight against those beasts.” You hold the cloth for a moment before letting go and pushing aside a strand of hair from your face. “Those of us who lack such strength must fight in other ways…” You look back subtly toward Luca slowly pouring the contents of the potion into Izurin’s agape mouth. “Especially to keep our promises.”

His eyes are hidden behind his long hair as he gazes downward. “I… I wish I could’ve done more… She offered to help, but I didn’t know what she would ask. I was so…scared.” What you can see of his face winces, and the heat of shame oozes into his final word such that it sounds as if from a different person.

"Being scared in under such pressure is only natural." You smile even though he isn't looking at you. "To want to survive is only natural."

"B-but... I let her know where we were headed and... and..." His hand holds the other far too tightly.

Your thoughts turn to the implication of the Fleshaper's actions while you let him find his words. By taking advantage of his vulnerability, she extracted information about your planned mission, yet acted on her own accord by only sending Liladyne and the two flesh creatures. If she truly wanted to act in the Sanctuary’s best interest, then you would have encountered greater number and from both directions. Ever the opportunist…

However, this must mean that the flooding water from the river is merely a coincidence and not caused to stop you, as the Fleshaper didn't seem to divulge her information with Enais or others. Then, what cause is there left to assume if there's nothing between the ocean and the origin of the river near the abandoned mine that acts as the Refinery for the Sanctuary. That place in which Alys had told you other organs of Thera-Yuugoth reside…

Ah.

>>5459388
???

The river is going to.....connect the organs? Or physically bring them together?

>>5459388

Your mind races from the sudden epiphany. As far apart as its organs were they maintained two types of connections this whole time. The aura that it casts forth to link all its fragments…

And the water surrounding Impel.

You immediately grab Mishenne’s chin to direct his face in your direction. “Misha… We need to keep moving. I need you to keep moving. Whatever deal you made with her… Don’t let it cost you your friends.” You relent and then place the potion squarely within his hand. “We’ll have the opportunity to speak on this further when we’ve made the climb. Drink this now.”

You don’t know how much longer you have until the Sanctuary starts moving the other fragments of Thera-Yuugoth, and therefore how much longer the Elin trapped above you yet have to live if they remain trapped.

For now, you’ll have to watch Mishenne carefully.

After stepping away from the young human, you quickly pull off your tattered coat and begin tearing it into long strips of which you quickly and tightly weave together. It helped keep the cold away all this time, now it will serve you one more purpose.

“Woah, easy there!” Luca keeps a tight grasp on Izurin as her body moves suddenly after the potion had been administered.

“It’s all wrong… It’s all wrong. They don’t understand what she wants.” Izurin’s words come rapidly before her eyes open suddenly.

Luca presses the question that's on your mind as well. "Who are you talking about? Who is she?"

"She?..." Her voice indicates no recognition of what's being asked. As you all gaze at her, she takes a few hard blinks looking upward at Luca. “It hurts.”

“What?! What hurts?” He worriedly inspects her body for new wounds.

Her eyes follow the rocks toward the grate. “They do.” She pulls herself free from his grasp, but still holds on to his body for stability within the flowing water.

As the sleep borne words have already slipped from her thoughts you move to the more pressing matter. “Can you make the climb?” You ask Izurin as you finish tying the end of your makeshift rope.

The Elin holds a pained expression as she turns to you, but eventually she nods.

Luca steps in front of the Elin. “You can’t expect her to make that climb on her own. What if she falls?”

“Then make the climb last. Then it’s in your hands to make the catch…” Seo shakes her head before slowly stepping toward you. “That isn't long enough for the whole climb.” She remarks staring at the product in your hands.

“Enough to make the latter half easier for the others.” You extend the rope for her to take. “If you don’t mind…” You nod toward the mace secured at her hip.

>>5459390

“Ever the taskmaster.” Seo quips but exchanges the rope willingly for the torch before moving toward Luca and snatching one of the thin blades kept on his leg. With an air of quiet confidence, she slings the rope around her neck and keeps the thin blade between her lips. Her eyes carefully study the rock after she places herself in front of it before finally taking hold of the stone and planting a foot on it as well.

You catch Mishenne carefully probing the tender spot on his leg where the wound has sealed. After Seo has gained enough height, you motion for him to follow and watch his climb carefully.

He’s not as fast as Seo, he hesitates greatly with every advance, and his leg is still causing him pain, which elicits a groan of pain each time he plants it on a jutting piece of rock. Despite that, he eventually makes his way high enough to grasp the rope that Seo finished securing without incident.

High above, Seo cautiously pushes the grate open and peers around in low light before signaling to the rest of you to follow.

You signal for Izurin to come to you and together you approach the rough stone. “Grab where I indicate and take as much time as you need.”

After ensuring your hair is still properly tied back, and that your staff is fully secured within the loops of your pack, you begin to make the climb with one of your hands occupied holding the torch. It makes it far more taxing, but you must manage it for the sake of everyone’s sight. All the while, you're cognizant of the path you take to ensure that it's not too difficult for the Elin carefully following you. Soon enough, you and her reach the rope.

It's only when the Izurin has finished the climb that Luca finally makes the ascent for himself.

>>5459390
Well it's a good thing Elewyn stabbed her in the brain, I guess.

Is this related to how she connected when falling into the snow? Because it's all in the snow as well?

File: MPE3.png (7.13 MB, 2555x1666)

7.13 MB PNG

>>5459392

~

Most every detail that your eye catches is exactly as disturbing as you remembered it to be.

As you study your surroundings, your human companions cover their mouths and noses in a hopeless attempt to separate themselves feeling the miasma of suffering that has accumulated here.

The hard ground is concealed beneath such a thick layer of discarded tissue caked with sticky blood that you would think it coming from the stone itself. The illusion is made all the stronger with oppressive damp warmth that invades your lungs and lingers unwelcome within. Where there is not boxed viscera, piled rubble, or discarded cloth, there is jagged or hard metal rising high above to serve as oppressive ruling force within this tortured space.

You’ve returned.

After you've finished you observation, the differences have become clear. Namely, there are now three massive cages housed within the space. Their contents are concealed by the low light of the room, but beyond the faint roar of water beneath you, you can hear steady and slow breathing much unlike any flesh beast you've encountered before. Whatever creatures lurk inside are seemingly asleep, and beyond the large metal door separating this space from the rest of the Maturation Pit the echoes of countless flesh beasts can be heard in the distance as they scratch at their cages. In addition to caged creature's breathing, you can hear pained breaths coming from the sunken pits carved into the stone, indicated that at least some of the Elin yet linger within. Following the chains from where they're secured around the Elins' necks to their origin reveals a newly installed set of brutal spikes on atop each chain mechanism.

You turn to Mishenne who already gazes at the nearby mechanism with a mixture of horror and fascination. He mouths words as he studies the details carefully.

Seo shakes her head in disbelief at Luca before moving close to you while holding the torch low. "This is no place for a person to die, so let's finish what we came here for and not stay a second longer." Her voice a barely audible whisper as she has notices the large cages across the room.

This is no place for anyone to live within either. You will advance on the pit to allow Mishenne to study it more closely and hopefully begin the disarmament, but are there other concerns you or your companions should address with the creatures that lurk within the cages or those beyond?

_________________________________________________________________________

You are currently undetected within the Maturation Pit, and have yet to secure any Elin. The objects circled in red indicate the location of the cages.


(After your potion usage, there now remains: 2 warming potions, and 12 caltrops.)

Elewyn
HP: 11
LP: 15
Stamina: 7
MP: 11

Luca
HP: 20
LP: 8
Stamina: 6
MP: 0

Seo
HP: 12
LP: 6
Stamina: 8
MP: 0

Misha
HP: 7
LP: 4
Stamina: 9
MP: 0

>Allow your other companions to catch their breath from the journey.

>Write in.

>>5459401

>Is this related to how she connected when falling into the snow? Because it's all in the snow as well?

In a sense, yes! Elewyn did fall unconscious at the time which facilitated that connection, but also because the snow is not always/entirely regular snow, but also made up of emissions from Thera-Yuugoth as you might recall in references to it crying.

>>5459409
Seeing how Elewyn's bag isn't exactly airtight, I want to prepare SOME kind of flesh trap to bait them as soon as the cages open. Could be as simple as laying some caltrop and meat at the south end so the smell doesn't wake them up.

Aside from that and wishing again for a grease potion......

Which direction are we headed after? Going out the other end means abandoning Alys, but if we go for Alys in the depths that means bringing everyone in and we basically aren't getting out until Thera is down for the count.

It will also make exiting here easier though, since we just have to barricade the other entrance in some way, like cutting the chain to keep the door shut.

>>5459418

>Which direction are we headed after?
I'll leave this as an open question for you guys, but the options that you know lead somewhere for sure (some more viable than others, and situations can change) there's a path that runs perpendicular west to the tunnel you traversed (north to south), there's the tunnel you came from, and there's a path out of the Maturation Pit that Elewyn was brought in when she was sneaking in the cart.

>>5459409
Okay, we made it.

Misha is going to focus on the mechanisms. I'd suggest keeping to the right side for now, as I assume any noise will provoke a roll to see if we get the attention of what's in the cages, and I'd rather only have one roll rather than two.

Elewyn is on observation duty. Let's sneak on over to the side of each pit and see if the Elins are still there.

Izurin probably just got hooked up straight to Alys, glad to know she's still kicking. But then again, it did seem like the godling wasn't fully understood by Sanctuary either from what I remember, so it could just be that. Best she lay down and rest up for now. Away from the cages.

Luca and Seo should rest, but light stuff such as putting together a bait/trap like >>5459418 proposes or searching those crates to our left should be fine. One of them per task. As for the trap, are we talking putting the caltrops in front of the meat or within it ? Within could cause them harm, or even prevent them from biting us, depending on how many mouths they have and their size,but it also means they won't be effectively stunned for a turn or two like the worm was. I'll let other anons weight in.

>>5459409
we'll need a way to move our deadweight burdens once we get them out, so those with their hands free should keep watch and make simple travoises, using the spare cloth and rubble around here. each sled will only need two poles and a piece of cloth, but will make moving over uneven ground, including snow or water covered, with extra weight or wounded significantly easier.

we will lose if there is any fight at all.

save the caltrops and meat imo. active use is easier to control than hoping the enemy blunders into a trap.

as far as our exit route, I would need the overall map to know which I would prefer, but whichever comes out near our reinforcements is probably our best bet. we need to dump off any elin we rescue here, not take them deeper into the belly of the beast. then, after that, we assess a way towards alys

>>5459409
>Stop and recover Stamina
>Misha starts working on mechanisms
>>5459710
I agree that it's easier to go for active use, rather than just guessing.
I'm thinking that whatever escape route ends closest to the docks is the best route, especially considering our last route is presently flooding steadily. Gonna go look at the maps we had on some previous threads, I think.

We can use the caltrops and things to cover our escape, and the flesh to potentially bait down paths we're not using, later

>>5459710
>>5460145
There is also the option of chucking meat into the holes AFTER we extract the Elin. That would severely slow down any beasts they bring in.

>>5459710
As for Alys.....Lost cause, for now. We don't have the manpower or magic to take on multiple Sanctuary leaders, and that's probably what's guarding the internal brain.
We will return, though.

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7.85 MB PNG

Heyo everyone, hope you've been doing well. Finally starting to really notice winter where I am, so that's quite appropriate that the end of the this arc coincide with that. Anyway, let's see what we have for our initial approach within the Maturation Pit!

>>5459418
>>5459445
>>5459710
>>5460145
>>5460155

So with Misha and Elewyn focusing on the mechanisms/on observation, we turn to Luca and Seo. Overall consensus for them to take it easy and rest for the most part, but there are also mixed votes to make some form of baited trap, as well as to preserve some of the caltrops for future usage. So, as a compromise, I propose trapping 2 of our 4 remaining pieces of flesh such that you can have those at the ready if the situation presents itself, but also have the other two ready to be trapped as well or used for a different purpose. I will note that the larger size of whatever lurks inside the cages will affect how long they take to consume a flesh piece. So while their attention may be diverted by a flesh piece, it very likely won't take a full turn to consume a single piece.

Furthermore, there was an idea proposed to construct multiple simple travois from the surrounding resources. I think given the time to sort through the resources and construction, one can be constructed this round in addition to preparing the baited traps. This will require a modest investment of stamina as well. I'll put Seo on this task given her slightly higher stamina.

(Added a slightly updated map to include the perpendicular path to the west we spotted before we made our climb. Please recall that the colored shapes indicate entrances/exits to the sewer. Unfortunately, we don't know how far it goes in the westward direction, so an exit can't be placed. Also, the eastward perpendicular path draining to the sea doesn't seem an exact straight shot as you didn't notice anything within the cave as you finished your journey to the Maturation Pit. However, all the sewage eventually drains to the sea, and as you saw, the water goes deeper...)


Going ahead with all this in mind, thanks for all of your thoughtful input!

>Writing. Update to be posted later tonight, perhaps around 10pm PST.

>>5460194

Ideally, you’d be able to focus completely on the mission for which you came here. To do so without rousing whatever beasts loom within the dark cages would be even better. However, by the nature of their profane creation and inborn voracity, the flesh beasts possess heightened senses to make them the ideal watchdogs for such a macabre dungeon. They’ll make use of those senses, as they have in past to hound you. Thus, contingency measures must be crafted to match brutality of this miserable pit and for your eventual escape with several more bodies in tow.

You nod firmly in response to Seo as you swiftly pull off your pack. “Agreed. Take these and embed three of Mishenne’s caltrops firmly within each of their tissues.” Your voice is only loud enough for your companions to hear as you retrieve the relatively less grotesque pieces of flesh. The flesh chunks find their way into reluctant hands as you motion for Mishenne to hand Seo the requested caltrops.

Immediately, you move closer to Luca to keep your communication hushed to not rouse the caged beasts. “Some are certain to be injured, and this one has only recently awoken from unconsciousness…” You nod toward Izurin whose blue eyes hazily stare toward the pits holding the Elin. “We need a sled to make their transport easier…It will also keep her occupied.”

Luca nods solemnly as he eyes the littered items. “Will she be alright?” He turns back to gaze at the foreboding holes carved into the stone ground. “And will they even be receptive to our rescue?”

“She’s more receptive to the suffering of others, and under the right circumstances, Elin project emotion beyond themselves. Even more so for intense emotion, of which I’m sure you can sense gravity of what's accumulated here." You tap two fingers against the side of your head. "That sort of experience can twist the mind to react in ways that would seem unreasonable to the uninformed, but for all those reasons we must remain confident and flexible for them to rely upon .”

He tries to steady his breathing. “I try, but there’s been something distressing lingering inside me ever since I stepped in here.” He places his hand against his chest. “If I'm not careful here… Would she have end up in that fucking pit? Why are any of them even in there in the first place?”

Through Izurin, this human has come a far way in developing empathy for your kind. You’re sure the journey was not without its growing pains…

“You kept her safe. Now keep her busy.” You tap the back of his arm to refocus his mind. “She has reason to listen and rely upon you, despite what you may think, and they will rely upon your help to get them out of here.” You motion to the three gaping wounds in the ground.

With eyes closed, Luca lets out a long breath while clenching his fists. The second he opens them, he moves toward Izurin to fulfill the task you gave him.

>>5460461

Afterward, you return to Mishenne and find him alone lighting another torch crafted partially from the nearby debris. Before you lead him closer to the pits, you reach up and grab each of his shoulders in your hands to convey the full weight of the situation. “So much has been leading up to this moment, Mishenne. It won’t be me, nor Luca, nor Seo that ensures the success of this rescue mission. It will be you.” You fingers tighten from fervor building within you. “What you might see will be far more harrowing than anything you have before. It will make you want to stop and turn away, but right now, I need you to pull on the skill that you alone have. I’m relying on you, Misha.”

His face is turned to the side as he absorbs your words, and beyond the long strands of hair, you can see his eyes blinking rapidly you can hear the shuddering breaths come out of his mouth. “I-I…I think I understand what they’ve built here, but I need to get closer to see…”

You feel his entire body quivering in your grasp. You nod and lead him firmly by the arm to the border of the first torture pit. You set him in front of the main complex mechanism housed at the precipice an then move to kneel and peer into the sunken pit of suffering.

“No way…” A voice from within whispers in disbelief. “You actually escaped, and came back for some horrible reason…”

>>5460472

Hearing the familiar voice sets a feeling of relief coursing through your chest that mixes turbulently with the guilt already rooted there.

Your eyes adjust to murky darkness, and soon the Elin peering up from within viscid pool of filth comes into view alongside another that uneasily rests leaning against her body. The flickering light makes the cuts dug into her skin from oppressive metal collar painfully visible. After letting a quiet sigh pass your lips, you respond to your trapped kin. “I told you that I intended to return. But this time, I’ve brought others to help me free you from this torture, all of you.”

The Elin furrows her brow at your words before shaking her head. “Don’t.” She then points up to the set of brutal spikes installed on the chain mechanism to loom over the pit. “These chains won’t just strangle us anymore. They told us if we try to mess with them or try to get out here, we’ll be killed on those things.” As her words finish, she pulls a pointed stone that was concealed within the murky water. “I don’t want to die on those spikes or in whatever they have planned for us.” Perhaps for the first time, she appreciates the stone she carefully crafted in the darkness of her imprisonment. “If you made it out, then maybe we they finally come to take us out, I can fight them for long enough for Mian to escape the same way you did.” She watches the Elin at her side rouse from hearing her name.

As she spoke to you, you could see more of her features beyond the filth and injuries covering her bare form. A slender body a slight bit taller than the average Elin, dark brown hair that has grown long and unkempt from her imprisonment, and eyes that yet carry the light of defiance within them “Your name?” You ask returning the fire in her eyes.

She holds your gaze for quite some time before turning to look straight ahead. “Nilo.” She answers flatly.

>>5460474

“Would you prefer to protect her with this, Nilo?” You move onto your knees and show her the long, thin blade that took from Liladyne. “Would you prefer to chance your survival with me who has thought of almost nothing other than how best to free you from here, rather than be forced to deal with the Sanctuary on their terms?”

She focuses on its glimmering shape longingly without returning an answer.

“Regardless, I will get you out of here, and you can call me Elewyn when you thank me.” You pull away from the hole and return to Mishenne while you let Nilo think on your words. “What are your thoughts?”

He fingers finish tracing the intricate gears and structure of the group trap. “The creativity would be admirable if weren’t used for such a horrible thing…” He shakes his head in admonishment as his words come quickly. “It contains dyad mechanisms that link two chains in completely different pits with amplified response, it’s well protected from uninformed tampering by linking structural components to the additional triggers on the dyad, and the base driving force used could easily suspend several grown men, but…”

“But?” You ask, hopefully.

“I-it’s kind of amateurish.” His eyes retrace the shape of the mechanism. “With so many odd redundancies and improper material use it’s a wonder it came together in first place.” A faint smile comes over his face while he nods his head slowly. “I understand it, and I can already see three ways to overcome it…”

Your eyes turn to the slight movement you spot within one of the distant cages. “Go ahead.” You usher him to quickly continue speaking.

>>5460482

“The simplest and quickest by far…” The lingering smile from his insight flattens into a tight displeasure. “Disconnecting one side of the dyad mechanism would allow the respective person to be free, but..." He shakes his head as if he's already discounted the idea.

"Continue." You answer solemnly, knowing that you shouldn't rule out any possibility.

"But, the other side will instantly lose its counterbalance and retract with great force..." He words trail off to leave the consequence unsaid.

The Elin on the other side of the chain would be slammed into the spike trap as result.

You grip his shoulder to support his wavering body as he imagines the result for himself. "I understand. The other methods?"

"Alternatively, I- I see a spot in which I could wedge the runs of both sides of an amplifier. This tampering would trigger the mechanism at the same time to retract both sides of the chain, but with a weakened response until their lengths caught up with where the wedge is. But..." His hand clenches his long hair as his thoughts race. "If both sides of the chain were pulled back to fight the retraction, I would only need several seconds at the most to disarm the whole thing with mechanism already sprung."

Then at least two of you would need to enter the pits and help the Elin fight against the retraction to utilize this method.

"The last..." He swallows heavily as he gazes at the layered components that make up the dastardly trap. "I take it apart piece by piece until the chains are free from the driver... I'd need several minutes for each pair to make sure I don't accidentally trigger anything."

Three options for three pairs of chains...

You shake his shoulder lightly. "You've already done well. Take a moment to calm your nerves while I check on the other Elin."

You quickly pace the edges of the pits, ensuring that your footfalls are as quiet as possible. From what you recall in your previous time here, the chain that lead to Mian was linked on the opposite end to an Elin named Haruei. But the others...

>>5460505

You close in on the center pit and lean just as you had the previous. With heads hanging loosely, two of your emaciated kin reside within, but with bellies bloated with quicksilver. "Can you hear me?" You whisper the words a few times, before tossing a light piece of rubble in the space between them The two Elin within the center pit don't show a shred of response and the longer you observe them, the more terrible their condition appears. While they may appear motionless from first glance, the plainly visible muscles on their body twitch and tighten randomly. On the portion of their backsides that stick out of the water, you see substantial dried blood that must've been expelled from the nearby orifice. Finally, on any exposed extremities such as their noses and animal ears, you see a fierce spread of gangrenous tissue, which you can only imagine is worse with the tissue submerged within the low water.

...

Damn it all...

You will yourself away from the pit with clenched jaw, and tightened fists shaking with anger as you approach the the last hole.

One of the Elin within jumps in fear as you appear above her, but beyond partially hidden glance she spots your form. She suddenly laughs wildly while shaking the barely responsive Elin near her. "Look, look! We're saved" She continues to shake her fellow dweller while ignoring your warnings to quiet down.

Within the cages, you suddenly hear reverberating snorts as the Elin's voice disrupts their slumber.

The second you catch her gaze, you repeat your order with hard firmness. "Quiet down otherwise none of us will be getting out of here."

Her eyes wince away from yours as if turning away from the sun, but she still rocks herself and the Elin next to her. Your eyes follow the chains as she does, and note that the resonating partner lead to different pits. With this information, you've sorted out an approximation of the chain pairings.

Haruei to Mian. Haruei's codweller to the unresponsive Elin in the middle pit. Nilo to another within the middle pit.

You take in the surroundings beyond the pit now. On one end, you to see Luca, Seo, and Izurin finishing the tasks you put them toward gazing uneasily at the growing noise from the cages. Then you turn back to Mishenne who unpacks the last of his necessary tools.

All of you then turn as the jarring mechanical sound of the lift has starts high above you. The very same that transported you to this place when you had first infiltrated this place. The beasts within the cages begin to bray loudly as the metal houses screeches with effort to keep them contained.

You will have the Sanctuary here in a matter of minutes.

>>5460511

May you have the chance one day to erase their cultists from this world. For now, you must continue to lead your group as well as you can, and bear the burden of difficult choices...

_________________________________________________________________________

The caged beasts within the room have started to grow agitated from the surrounding noises. Currently you have yet to secure any Elin.

Each of Misha's presented options to disarm the chaining mechanism will require a time investment to enact according to his description.

(You have two pieces of flesh with caltrops embedded, and two without. Luca has constructed one travois that can carry up to two Elin. There now remains: 2 warming potions, and 6 caltrops.)

Elewyn
HP: 11
LP: 15
Stamina: 12
MP: 17

Luca
HP: 20
LP: 8
Stamina: 15
MP: 0

Seo
HP: 12
LP: 6
Stamina: 17
MP: 0

Misha
HP: 7
LP: 4
Stamina: 12
MP: 0

>Indicate the chosen method that Misha will use to free his first pair of Elin, and any other related or preparatory action that you want Seo, Luca, or Elewyn to carry out.

>>5460194

The narrative felt better if I switched the order of who constructed the travois/ implanted the caltrops into the flesh pieces between Luca and Seo. As I made such a deviation, I simply gave both of them the maximum stamina recovery they would receive on a resting turn.

>>5460521
Can we sacrifice the buckler? A bigger shield would obviously be preferable, but Elin have some pretty small profiles. We could have one of the more able ones can hold it with a couple pieces of meat and pull option 1. Maybe also prepull the contraption so there's less acceleration.

As for option 2, Haruei and Mian are going to have to do their best. Maybe five them some meat too if they aren't confident.

I don't think we have time for another stretcher. Seo and Luca can do 1 trip, at least, for protecting for option 2.

So the main question is if we mercykill the quicksilvered one and save time.

>>5460528
Nah, the main question is, how many cultists on that elevator and what are they supposed to be doing down here? Best option is they just move the beasties, but we can't afford to wait around to find out.
Even if we somehow get everyone out and skedaddle before they arrive, they'll report us immediately. But if they are taken care of, then we get whatever length of time they were supposed to spend down there+ however much time it takes for someone to get annoyed that they're late+however long it takes for them to come down, see the scene, come back up and report+time to assemble whoever else is in the facility other than these guys or send a runner.

I'll look back and see how many people we thought were coming down the lift with us the first time, keeping in mind we also had a cart.

But overall, this situation is better than I expected! For a start, they're all still here. Then, I think we can get the Elins to carry each other just fine with the travois. Lastly, it's just a matter of throwing a few heals their way.

>>5460528
One more addition for option 1:

If I understand the contraption properly, the counterpull will come from a chain pulling with too much force to stop with hands.

But can we fit throwing knives inbetween links to catch on the mechanism as it rises up?

>>5460544
I think we should at least empty out 1 hole so we have somewhere to kick down beasts and cultists for tactical delays.

File: MPE4.png (7.94 MB, 2737x1800)

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>>5460521
How did I forget the image. I shouldn't let myself post this late!

>>5460528
>Can we sacrifice the buckler?
Seo doesn't have nearly as much attachment to the buckler as she does the mace, so it can exchange hands this way if she is convinced of its necessity.

>>5460545
>But can we fit throwing knives inbetween links to catch on the mechanism as it rises up?

You may try, but this will come with a chance of failure, and the full consequences associated if it were to occur.

>>5460546
That would take 2 maneuvers, unfortunately, since they aren't connected to their neighbors. But I agree that we can still do one pair, no matter the method. I like Nilo's spirit, and would like to let her use that sword!

Looking back, it's hard to get a number. There are several people in the structure, and at least two went down with the cart, but we don't have more info. It will depend on their purpose, but I am expecting 2-6 people, most likely 2-4. It's not like we know their fighting ability, since we only have Devans and enforcer to go off of. Somewhere in the middle, surely?
And the worm ambush taught us a very important lesson. The fleshbeasts' ravenous hunger makes no distinction. I would like to have someone take a peek at the isolated cage. More specifically its locking mechanism. Having one of those beasts play catch with a cut of meat and end up in a feeding frenzy in the middle of the incoming cultists would certainly cause some damage!
Though we ought to wait until they make their way further in, to avoid them falling back to the elevator and back up.

>>5460548
QM, how hard is it to get down and back up from a pit, anyway? For both Elewyn and Luca/Seo, as well as for the Elins.

>>5460558
>>5460549
Also, where does the lift come down? Further up top than what we can see, or somewhere else in the current picture?

>>5460558
>>5460559
>QM, how hard is it to get down and back up from a pit, anyway? For both Elewyn and Luca/Seo, as well as for the Elins.

For you and your companions, climbing in would be a straightforward and quick task, climbing out would take a short while longer, but not substantially so. For the Elin, and assuming they've been freed from the trapping mechanism, it depends on the individual. Nilo wouldn't have too much trouble if freed and allowed to stretch her limbs for a moment. From there it would increase in difficulty/may require help depending on their condition.

>Also, where does the lift come down? Further up top than what we can see, or somewhere else in the current picture?
The lift is beyond the cages, so the one conventional entrance to the room is off the screen of the current picture.

Good questions all around! Much appreciated to you guys for asking them.

>>5460562
Got it. I'm starting to see a plan take shape.

Our first pair chain should be the link between Nilo and one in the middle pit.

I don't trust the dagger trick, so method 2 or 3 it is, keeping in mind that whoever is in the middle will need some serious help not to get strangled or smashed. I'd be in favor of 3, though the time for getting Nilo out of the pit and in ambush position might be a bit tight. Or we keep her in the pit, with the sword hidden underwater, goad the cultists further inside the room?

I'm also wondering how evident the tampering will be. I'm hoping they'll at least have to get quite close, but it might vary if we trigger it, get it stuck or disassemble it entirely, I suppose?

We need someone, Luca or Seo, to go check out the isolated cage. Is there a lock, how strong does it look, which way does the cage open? I'm not sending an Elin near them to not agitated them overmuch, and Misha will be busy.

Elewyn should start healing. I'm thinking a quick hop down the middle pit to ensure those two pull through the prison break and transport to the harbor. One heal each at least.
Depending on how much she can regenerate before the next fight, I'm thinking a heal for Seo, and maybe one for either Misha or Nilo, but it could very well be worth it to bank that mana for the actual fight, for I do intend to make a fight out of it!

>>5460567
If we use method 3, we don't need to have someone climb down and whoever we kick down there can get shanked by Nilo. I'm not too confident on the usefulness of that, though. I'd rather rush 2 method 2s and empty out a pit.

>>5460548
Right now I'm planning
>Luca in the right pit
>Elewyn with the buckler in the middle pit
>Seo in the left pit

We trigger method 2 for Haruei and Mian. Seo can climb up, and Luca has the freedom to go up or wait for Nilo. If the battle starts and Elewyn is stuck in the middle, we have meat, stun, and shank to keep anyone busy.

If we DO have enough time, then we set up for slaughter on the ground.

>>5460574
Sounds good, but I'd prefer if we didn't use Elewyn for the middle pit. She can and should go in for heals, but since the two in there can't pull back for method 2, we'd need at least a human, preferably Luca since he's heavier than Seo, and it's just a matter of pulling against the chain.
Otherwise, I agree with the order, and Haruei might just be willing to fight. I hold less hope for Mian, but that's okay, having her out the way will go a long way in making Nilo fight as hard as she can, and give her space in the pit. Let's just hope the cultists take the bait.

Now that doesn't leave us much opportunity to go check out the cage, so I guess that's being put back until after we clear the first two chains, if there's time left. There should be, as I expect each use of method 2 to last only around a minute with everyone coordinating and getting in and out of the pits with the Elins.

>>5460521
Option 3 for any of these seems like it takes too much time.
Rushing option 2 definitely is the best idea, as with whatever options start with getting Nilo free, as the most active one left it seems.

As that naturally seems like we need to put Luca or Seo in the center pit, to pull back against the two passed out ones. Elewyn can combine with Nilo in her pit to help pulling back, and we can get the left pit with whichever strong frontliner was left.
Yes, this puts everyone in a pit for some time, but with Elewyn we've got the ability to bounce her right out of the pit with Gale, and then re-enact This Is Sparta in punting people coming down with directional Gales to send them down pits, where our companions can hopefully finish them off.

Rolled 2 (1d3)

Heyo everyone! Much appreciated for balancing the many concerns within the Maturation Pit and putting a lot of consideration into which method of Misha's should be used on who. It took a bit of extra scrutiny to choose which actions to synthesize a cohesive plan from the actions, and it may not satisfy every single one of everyone's wishes, but based on your discussion this is what I have:


>>5460574
>>5460598

These votes lean toward Method 2 to be used by Misha to free Haruei and Mian first. For Elewyn, the overall discussion is veering her to enter the pit with Nilo and Mian, where she will be with Seo to overall assess which of the three is most in need of healing and then cast a single Healing Light on that target. Seo in the same pit will be there to hold Mian's chain in place once the Misha triggers Method 2.

On the other side, Luca manages the retraction of Haruei's chain after the triggering of the mechanism.

For this, I will roll 1d3 for the healing range of Elewyn's spell, the target remains to be seen. (3 = greatest heal)
MP Cost: 6

>>5461553
Medium heal of HP +4.

Now let's see figuratively how the dice fall!

>Writing, and update to be posted sometime later tonight again, hopefully around the 10-11pm PST timeframe!

>>5461553
If that's the case, a monster swallowing a caltrop meat and getting headsmashed is going to be quite effective

>>5461568

With the experience of countless mortal situations, the anarchic elements of peril are turned over and reined in your mind, and fall into a discreet order to be promptly handled.

Your legs strain with the dual efforts of speed and silence as you move toward Seo and Luca. You start by quickly conveying the danger of the trap mechanism, and the options that Mishenne has devised to defeat it.

“How can the threat of these Elin warrant this…repugnant thing?” Incensed, she glares in thought at the brutal spikes. “It’s so utterly senseless…” The leather of her glove rubs audibly as her fist clenches.

Luca warily looks over her as he hasn’t yet learned of her clandestine interest in the strategist behind these atrocities. “She’s right… What could possibly be the purpose for this? Do they hold some sort of power that makes them a threat to their plans?”

The atrocious purpose of their imprisonment is preparation for their eventual use as raw material for a certain being’s most precious organ. They will come to know this whenever the time is right.

The lift mechanism continues to grind nosily as it settles into its long journey downward. For now, you haven’t the time for anything other than ensuring they follow your orders. You’ll deflect his question with another side of this multifaceted nightmare, one more in line with his interests...

“With such a varied group, it’s hard to know for certain. But we may have the chance to learn their magical capabilities if we remain focused on freeing them. You describe your chosen tasks for them and follow quickly with the reasoning. “The conscious one in there is far too erratic to leave attached to the trap for long. Therefore, we’ll aim to free her first and the one attached to her. You two will restrain each end of the link while Mishenne does the rest.”

>>5461898

Seo shakes her head free of the lingering thought as she responds to your words. “Are we to trust that he’s capable, and what of the words you exchanged with him earlier?”

“He knows his tools better than we know our weapons.” Luca’s tone offers no shred of doubt.

You hastily hold up your hand before Seo can respond to his bold statement. “Enough. What he told the Sanctuary agent, he did so to save himself and Izurin from those beasts. But you two should know that I will personally deal with him if he tries anything further in that regard.”

Luca points a stern finger in your direction. “You don’t have to worry about him. I trust him more than I do you, anyway.”

Another braying roar promptly ends your heated exchange.

You smirk at his words before swiftly leading them away to their tasks. “Good.”

On one end, Luca approaches the left pit with Izurin holding the torch that Seo once did. On the other you and Seo approach the hole containing Nilo and Mian.

Mishenne quickly grasps your plan upon seeing his friends approach the torture pits and readies himself and his tools after you nod toward the chain leading away from Mian.

After a hard sigh from the young human near you, the two of you slink carefully into the pit, and from the other side of the room, you hear Haruei’s frantic voice as Luca does as well. “Me?! Thank you, oh thank you, sir!” Her unstable laughter echoes in the room nosily.

Frustration builds within you for not being able to manage the unstable Elin’s noise.

Nilo eyes the two of you with great wariness as Seo takes hold of Mian’s chain, but she trusts you enough not to stop you.

You know that despite her guardedness, she’s taking comfort from knowing that Mian will be finally free from the chain. May seeing her free go a long way in motivating her to fight when the time comes.

You close your eyes and carefully listen beyond the growing noise.

The instant you hear both chains rattle from Luca’s grip, you give the order. “Now.”

>>5461918

The brutal snap of the mechanism triggering is followed by hard grinding of metal on metal as the chain begin to steadily pull on Mian’s neck and cause her to rouse fully to consciousness. She pants in alarm as she looks between Nilo and the new inhabitants of her sunken cell.

“It’s okay!” Nilo whispers quickly as her worried eyes focus on Seo fighting against the advance of the chain. “It will be off soon!”

Several distinct manipulations can be heard originating from Mishenne’s tools working feverishly on the trap mechanism. While he works, the chain continuously retracts to lift Mian to her feet with Seo’s arms stretching high above her as she strains against the force of the chain.

Upon noticing that her lingering injuries strain her efforts to resist the pull of the chain, you immediately move to pouring healing mana into her body with your spell illuminating the squalid pit in disturbing detail with its pure glow.

After this, the young human plants a foot to brace her body against the jagged stone wall. For a split second, her other foot loses contact with the ground before the chain suddenly becomes slack causing her and the Elin to drop. At the same moment, you hear discordant clinking noise of dozens of hard links slamming.

With an unceremonious splash into the water, the metal collar releases as the tension holding it shut has been severed at last. The metal moves away to reveal severely raw, but free skin underneath.

It's as if you breath was held in by that very chain, as your chest finally relaxes from when you first gave the order. Then, perhaps for a moment longer than you should, you simply watch the Elin move around in amazement of her sudden freedom.

File: fleshorse.png (3.23 MB, 1951x1633)

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>>5461929

Without giving thought to further freedom, Mian dives across the pit to eagerly embrace her companion. “Nilo, Nilo! I can move around! Look.” Her voice affected by the momentary strangulation, but still conveying pure relief as she stands to demonstrate her freedom.

At the same moment, the voice of the Elin across the room dominates even within your pit. “Thank you, but let me out! Let me get out!” Haruei shouts frantically in a mixture elation and panic.

Upon hearing the other Elin, Nilo quickly nods with eyes hot with tears. “I know. I’ll join you soon, so get up there and look after Haruei.”

After a moment of hesitation, Mian allows you and Seo to free her of the pit for good.

“Wait!” Mishenne shouts suddenly causing both you and Seo follow the Elin you rescued.

It's then that one of the flesh creatures that lurked within the cage comes into full and unsettling view within the light of your torches. The flickering flames dance upon the massive musculature of the beast as it scampers unsteadily around the entrance of its cage, nickering as its head bounces up and down. Immediately, your thoughts return to the horses that your companions used to travel from Velika. The approximate size and behavior of the abomination is the same, but its knurled and human-like skin indicates its transformation. In fact, as it disturbingly pulls itself along on three limbs, the motion resembles how a one-armed human might crawl on the ground, before rising again to preen like the proud horse it once was. Finally, it turns eyeless face toward you while drooling from a massive mouth. It sniffs deeply of the air before letting out a neigh that resounds in your chest and bounding wildly away from its cage.

File: MPE5.png (5.63 MB, 2170x1589)

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>>5461940

"What in the fuck is that?!" Luca shouts in shock as he hastily pulls himself to ground level and rushes to move in front of Izurin. At the same time, you and Seo press in as the Fleshorse runs in chaotic paths not yet focused on any one in the room.. As it trots, its back legs occasionally kick back to demonstrate its terrifying strength.

Haruei's screams in panic as she crawls away on the ground toward the sewer grate from which you and your companions infiltrated this prison. The steady grind of the mechanical lift forms the distressing background to an already distressing scene as you now estimate whoever is on the lift have made it past the halfway point. All the noises seem to rousing yet another flesh beast lurking within the cage.

The rescue must continue, but how will you deal with the growing turmoil within the Maturation Pit?

_________________________________________________________________________

A sentry of this prison has awakened its terrible strength and bounds across the room with great but currently undirected speed and strength. It appears to be a flesh beast both driven by sound and smell. You other concerns lie with the hysterical Elin already crawling her way to escape on her own and the impending arrival of those within the lift.

Currently you have freed 2 Elin. (Mian and Haruei)


Elewyn
HP: 11
LP: 15
Stamina: 14
MP: 13

Luca
HP: 20
LP: 8
Stamina: 20
MP: 0

Seo
HP: 16
LP: 6
Stamina: 22
MP: 0

Misha
HP: 7
LP: 4
Stamina: 12
MP: 0

>Devise a strategy for your companions to continue the extraction of the other Elin, and to deal with the circumstances impeding that mission.

>>5461943
Pull out the caltrop meat and slowly lead it to the middle. The caltrops in the mouth will make screaming harder, and we can get in position for an alpha strike.

Izurin and Haruei can move towards the middle hole. Splashing into the water will be the signal to gut the beast.

>>5461959
Why attack it at all? It's based on a horse, and it isn't actively hostile. We can work with this.

>>5461943
Taking care of Haruei:
Izurin and Luca to move back to calm her down and maybe restrain her respectively. We don't want her giving away our surprise or attracting the horsey, and she's also at risk of throwing herself down the wall we scaled, straight into flowing water.

Taking care of the the horsey:
If Elewyn's hunch is right, it's their horses. Let's have her tell that to Seo, asking if any of the three knew the beasts well enough to have learnt how to talk or whistle to them, it might calm them down.
Should that work, have Seo continue calming the beast while moving towards the middle pit. We're going for Nilo next. Seo has enough strength to pull even with an unconscious Elin, while Elewyn and Nilo should be able to stave it off long enough, especially since Misha should be a bit quicker and confident the second time around.

Before we start making noise again, we should throw one of the non-trapped pieces of meat toward the center of the room, above the middle pit, towards the elevator. I'm worried a piece with caltrops will enrage it before the cultists are here for us to direct the two against each other, so this is simply to distract it long enough for the elevator to arrive.


Overall there's no need to make a fight of things yet, hopefully, though depending how things go we may not be able to deal with Nilo's chain before the cultists arrive. But we ought to make sure she gets that sword either way.


Also, looking back...did the cultists link the chains to the cages? I know they were worried about an escape, but how do they expect to deal with the horseys if they're coming in for the Elin? Or is it a coincidence? Maybe Misha has seen a secondary chain somewhere, since we didn't get a look before starting? It seems rather reckless if that's the case, but it also means that either the horseys are not very aggressive and can be pacified or that they have ways of dealing with them, which would throw a wrench in my plan of using one as a bowling ball into their formation.

>>5461990
True, true.

I'm guessing the horses were just left there as storage.

>>5461943
I'll support this. We might need to get all the other Elin to cover for Nilo, if Elewyn gets occupied with healing or directing with meat.

>>5461990
Looking back, Seo got the heal since we din't get to the middle pit. I'm hoping we get time to at least look the two in there over. I guess healing them when they're out of the filthy, stagnant water is best, I just hope this doesn't degenerate into another boat situation...
Reading back, it's just the potential threat of our ambush going badly that's preventing me from voting to have Elewyn jump in there. Gangrene isn't good at all. Can we even heal that? I don't remember the rules on growing back lost skin tissue, or nerves. Also, we may have to get them to expel the quicksilver somehow...

Heyo everyone, coming off the end of a three day weekend feeling pretty relaxed and rest. Hope you all were able to enjoy it as well!

Let's see what we have to reign in the growing pandemonium.

>>5461990
>>5461997
A lot of tactics presented to deal with unfolding situation, so I'll see what's possible in a reasonable timeframe.

Unanimous support for: using Izurin and Luca to ensure that Haruei is calmed down and properly restrained before she can be a risk to herself and others.

From there, Elewyn to quickly confer with Seo to see who would be the best equipped to handle the horses, if they are indeed the horses the humans came to Impel riding, while observing further if placating/directing is possible. For now, Elewyn will use one of the non-trapped flesh pieces to distract it from possibly attacking anyone within your group.

Any further action on this would have to wait for a later round as using Mishenne's second method to free Nilo and another Elin would require both Elewyn and Seo to be within the pit, and therefore focused on that task. Immediately upon freeing Nilo, we will equip her with the sword that Elewyn took from Liladyne.

No rolls required for this set of actions!

>Writing. Update to be posted tomorrow around 8pm PST. Have a great rest of your Sunday!

>>5462694

To growing grinding whir of the elevator, the plan rapidly develops in your mind as image overlaid over countless image, but there yet remains directing the actors in the scene soon to unfold. Communicating while still following the restriction of silence will soon be a moot point. Very soon, but not quite yet.

While watching the fleshorse raucously stamp on stone and fleshy piles, you steadily dig through the contents of your pack without betraying your position with sudden movement. The depleting stock of still warm flesh chunks push against your fingers, which soon ready around a chosen piece. The instant the frantic flitter of heavy stomps turns the beast away, you fling the severed chunk with all your effort. For a moment, it sails in the unknown cloaking darkness that hangs high above you, but soon, a meaty echo.

Both you and the flesh beast rush to act on this stimulus.

“Restrain her.” Free of the shackles of whispering, your voice easily carries to Luca who yet watches the stampeding beast with sword half drawn.

The human shifts his gaze first upon you and then turns to the panicked Elin frantically crawling away toward the metal grate. He slams his sword back into its sheathe as he moves to stop her.

Watching him and Izurin in your periphery, you’ve already turned your attention to Seo. “Which of you three handled the horses that you came here upon?”

Her eyes, flickering from the torch behind you shift repeatedly toward the distracted beast as she speaks. “You’ve already put the one that has a penchant for wrangling wily creatures to use.” She sighs and shuts her eyes. “But I see little of the noble horses we came here upon.” Her tone quiet.

Much has changed for all involved. Relying on any past affections with this animal would be a prospect not without risk, but every second you require will demand more of all involved...

“Perhaps, but I’d prefer to know all my options.” While still finishing your words, you turn to Misha. “For now, another round of restraining chains to free more of them. I’ll be on this end.”

You’re sure to make your words as concise as your movements. The sands of time here certainly descend with much cacophony, making it known that you can very easily be buried underneath if you linger past your luck.

You leave the thin sword and your staff at the edge of Nilo’s pit.

The shallow filth within your targeted prison hole splashes around you as you hurriedly jump in, free of the restraints of sound and space. You position yourself behind the naked Elin to grip the chains a few feet above their point of connection. She does the same closer to her antithetical umbilical cord. You turn down to look at her. “Do you yet have the strength to pull?”

>>5463693

“I don’t think I got a choice here…” Nilo’s battered fingers wrap repeatedly around the metal links to find the best grip.

“Certainly not.” A soft smirk forms on your face. “Since I haven't the bodily strength to fight the pull on my own.”

She glares at you with a mixture of annoyance and amusement. “Still better chances than staying put, I guess…”

Given all that she has suffered, her robustness certainly draws from you a measure of respect.

You signal to her your impending order, before calling out to the young human standing ready near the mechanism. “Now!”

The same series of grating noises resounds throughout the prison as both you and Nilo are lifted easily from the ground. As you are pulled from the fetid pool, you dig your feet into whatever parts of the jagged wall they can catch. Rock twists and slices into you as you are pulled steadily and uncaringly against the rough surface. Blood begins to drop from your toes to mix with the filth, but you’re soon to follow.

You and Nilo crash roughly back into the pit, as you hear similar sounds from the center hole. The two of you are quick to stand and recover, and within a short moment you’re freeing Nilo of the collar that yet sticks to the wounds on her neck.

Probing the tender flesh, she thanks you wordlessly before looking up toward the opening of her soon to be former pit of confinement and suffering.

>>5463700

You position yourself to buoy her for this first step, and after a clumsy flurry of you pushing against her bare legs and then feet, she finally manages to pull herself free.

You climb out of the hole after her, and after immediately retrieving your staff, you catch her on all fours pushing her fingers into her mouth. After a few dry wretches, a thin stream of bloodied quicksilver ejects from her stomach, and she presses her head against the ground to allow it to empty from her body. She coughs roughly and pulls her head up from the stone.

At that point, you offer the handle of the thin blade to the now kneeling Elin.

Nilo hesitates for a moment with heavy breaths easily visible on her exposed body before taking the sword within her grasp. She shakily pulls herself to standing by gripping your clothes. “This thing is a bit longer than I’m used to, but it won’t stop me from putting it to good use.

“You will surely receive practice soon...” You note to her while looking toward the middle pit, and not seeing Seo nor Elin emerge from it.

With their condition, it comes at no surprise that they wouldn’t be able to leave without a great deal of help. If at all…

Your attention toward the pit is interrupted as Mishenne approaches you from the now completely disarmed mechanism. The descending lift, now only a few feet overhead, jarringly reverberates throughout the entire prison room and within your very bones.

>>5463728

“It, it wasn’t redundancies built into it…” He shouts before looks toward one of the cages that hangs open menacingly. “On this disarmament, I was able to see it start a trigger that led to the cage.” He shakes his head in disappointment. “There wasn’t enough time to do disarm both the chain and it.”

The tempest of suffering grows...

You ready your staff, as you see yet another Fleshorse emerge from the depths of the cage, rubbing its neck against the metal frame.

“Elewyn!” Seo’s calls out to you in a panic as the top of her body appears first before the rest of her climbs out of the pit. She dashes the few steps between her and you. “Those two…” The clenching of her fist is not enough to hold back her anger, and she instead slams her fist into hand and presses both against her forehead as she shakes her head. “They can’t be moved! Their bodies are too far gone!”

Catching within it far too many innocents...

Her last few words come to you with utter clarity as the lift settles onto your level, and soon the hurried footsteps of multiple figures covering the short distance between the lift and the entrance to the prison.

Luca moves forward between the left and middle pit. "We cannot stay any longer." He shakes his head as he keeps his hand ready at the hilt of his sword. "We have too many to protect."

You stand forever positioned at its eye.

"Elewyn..." Mishenne whispers as he approaches you with something contained in his hands. "She gave this to me... Told me to throw into one of these pits..."

Your attention is fixed on the booming voice resounding as it moves past the entrance of the prison. "Far too many grave mistakes have been made in allowing you to live this long, little one..." The towering monstrosity that easily snapped your arm out of place speaks to you in the same steady tone he did when you first encountered him. "Mistakes that rest on my shoulders as well." He carefully watches the two fleshorses uneasily amble in the space between you and him.

Two cloaked figures, and two human sized flesh serpents approach alongside the massive enforcer and stop instantly at the raise of the enforcer's hand. "There will be no more mistakes. You will die in horrible pain."

Your eyes drift down to the thick bundle that Mishenne holds delicately in both his violently shaking hand.

"Explosives." He slowly mouths to you with terror carved into his face.

Lives are precious, and if you're going to protect them, then you better get up and keep moving...

For you are the tempest.

You take the explosives in your small hand.

File: MPE6.png (6.88 MB, 2329x1829)

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>>5463744

_________________________________________________________________________

The agents of the Sanctuary have arrived to put a stop to your rescue and to your life, while the two powerful Fleshorses uneasily stamp within the space between you and the Sanctuary. If the fleshorses turn against you, the balance of combatants is strongly in the Sanctuary's favor, and more reinforcements could easily arrive. There are yet 3 Elin still remaining in the pits, the two in the middle would require significant medical attention and help to extract, while the remaining in the left pit seemed to only require extraction.

To ask for much, requires much. and a balance of who you wish to save, and protecting those you've already saved must be drawn.

Currently you have freed 4 Elin from the mechanism. (Nilo, Mian, Haruei, and another that yet remains in the pit.)

You have 3 pieces of flesh left, 2 trapped 1 not. Elewyn carries a bundle of explosives with a fuse. The enemy will understand the danger of this item.


Elewyn
HP: 11
LP: 15
Stamina: 14
MP: 17

Luca
HP: 20
LP: 8
Stamina: 2
MP: 0

Seo
HP: 16
LP: 6
Stamina: 24
MP: 0

Misha
HP: 7
LP: 4
Stamina: 12
MP: 0

>Devise a strategy for you and your companions as to how you will choose to handle the perilous situation at hand. (Nilo will assist you with fighting or other tasks.)

>>5463754

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. I will be around for a little more than an hour before bed, and then I should be able to answer questions starting in the morning (PST)!

>>5463744
Why on earth did she give misha explosives? Was she going to sabotage her own allies?

So the meat can properly bait the horse creatures. Do we need something special to light the explosives? Is it small enough that it could accidentally fall through grates or holes?

>>5463762
>Why on earth did she give misha explosives? Was she going to sabotage her own allies?
More and more evidence is consistent with the answer being yes.

>Do we need something special to light the explosives? Is it small enough that it could accidentally fall through grates or holes?
Carefully applied fire from a torch will do fine in this case for lighting the explosive. I'll say that as a bundle it's very unlikely to fall through the grate unless someone chooses to shove it into there.

>>5463757
>>5461990
Still rangebanned on mobile, so I'm using another computer at work for this. I want to get my questions and plans in early so the other anons can see them.
So first off, did the horsey actually go after the meat and eat it?
Second, I was confused for a bit, but when Seo is talking about who was best with the horses, she was referring to Luca, not Mishenne, right?
Third, is the explosive a same-round fuse or will it last longer? If so, can the fuse be shortened?
Also, Luca is shown a bit away from Izurin and Haruei, has he calmed her down or is he still moving towards her?

As for plans I wasn't expecting the sewer guardian. It's nice we don't seem to have any trouble finding Sanctuary enforcers to get rid of, at least!

Not sure why the traitor specifically wants it used on the pits. I don't trust her, so I'm inclined to think she hopes it will spread the quicksilver vapors and kill everyone so she's free to do her thing with a weakened Sanctuary. Maybe there's some manner of secret passage under them, but she didn't give a reason, so I'm disinclined to assume good intent here.

Best way I can see of using that explosive is baiting the enforcer into a second phase, hope the worms aggregate on him like they did Liladyne, and throw the explosive in the middle of the shifting pile. If it goes off, I'm confident there won't be a second phase.

For the horseys, we need to seize the initiative. Either the same meat trick as Liladyne or by whistling from Luca, we want them to move towards Sanctuary and get agitated, and things should go from there. I'm hoping we can cause that conflict by having both horseys and worms converge on a piece of meat, hopefully thrown at the guardian and then start attacking each other and getting into a frenzy in the middle of their formation. Bit of damage on the guardian and a fleshbeast pileup hopefully.

>>5463904
>So first off, did the horsey actually go after the meat and eat it?
>Second, I was confused for a bit, but when Seo is talking about who was best with the horses, she was referring to Luca, not Mishenne, right?
>Third, is the explosive a same-round fuse or will it last longer? If so, can the fuse be shortened?

OP, phone posting here! To answer your questions in order:
Yes indeed, the first horse was distracted by the flesh chunk you flung, and spent the turn retrieving it and eating it.

You’re right that Seo was referring to Luca when asked about who handled the horses prior.

We’ll say as is, the explosive will be a same round item, but with a delay such that your and the enemies actions will take place even if ignited at the beginning of the turn. In that way, the explosive can be lit at the end of a round to be used at the beginning of the following, if that suits your strategy better. For the second part of your question, I turned the idea around in my head for a bit, but I think that the fuse couldn’t be shortened in any significant regard without making it too risky to light in the first place, given the current circumstances.

Good questions, and I hoped this helped!

>>5463754
>>5463904
What I'm thinking so far is that the explosive has 2 options:

>Use it to skip phase 2 and possibly blow up the lift to prevent reinforcements.
>Throw it in the deep end back where we came from to screen our descent.

If we actually want to go back through the lift, it will be very difficult to find a use for the bomb.

Either way, the caltrop meat will be handy to add a lot of horse muscle in the way of them zerg rushing us. We may as well dump the rest of the caltrops in front of our vulnerable group. Luca will have a lot of time and a good vantage to pelt easy targets with knives, and they're the ones who need to come to us.

>Luca knifes the serpents or whoever he can target without touching the horses.
>Start throwing the trapped meat into their midst
>Lay the caltrops in front of the main group
>If a cloaked figure approaches, mace them into the right pit and let Nilo keep them in there
>Otherwise, Nilo and Seo are on serpent killing duty
We want to get bossman to charge into the fray and open himself up to be melee'd right after some magic.

I mean, if she told us to bomb the pits, that's probably the best route to take at some point. The largest issue I see is, frankly, how outmassed we are by their Flesh titan, two human enforcers, and the extra flesh worms.

So, we need to even those odds. The best way of doing that, by my reckoning, is to divide the opponents up. We can use the space between the pits as somewhat of chokepoints, although if they circle around we're certainly going to be in trouble.

>>5463754
>Elewyn needs her hands to hold staff and rotting flesh, so she hands the bomb off to Misha

>Bait the flesh worms to rush forwards by tempting them with flesh chunks, and either dispatch them with strikes or directional Gust them into the unoccupied pit

>Misha deploys caltops in front of our group, then gets handed the bomb

>Seo and Nilo attempt to Frontline, attacking whatever arrives closest

To deal with the big guy, I'm gonna suggest whenever he comes forwards to Stun him, and have the stronger members of the party attempt to trip him into one of the pits. We can then chuck the explosives down whatever pit he's in, and fight the remaining enforcers on an even footing. Does mean we would need to budget for a Sundowning, so keep that in mind.

To this end, Luca needs to take a turn off to recover stamina, or else he's gonna be useless when we need him in melee. That's a lot of mass to move, after all.

The biggest concern would be the Flesh Titan falling down an occupied pit. If that's the case....well, then we'll have a decision to make.

Although, ya know, if we KNEW we had explosives before going into this, we might have been able to set something up earlier with the elevator.

>>5464291
> To this end, Luca needs to take a turn off to recover stamina, or else he's gonna be useless when we need him in melee.

Huge apologies to everyone, but Luca’s stamina is supposed to be 22 instead of 2. He wouldn’t have exerted himself that much to reign in a creature that’s ~1/3 his weight.

Damn, I’m really sorry for that mistake! I think I’ll give a good bit of extra time on this vote in case this effects anyone’s plans.

>>5463904
>>5464331
So Luca is in fact done with Haruei? Good to know!
>>5464291
Support. Looks like a good plan, but I'll also support >>5464162 's idea of throwing the meat towards the group to pull the horseys over and get them riled up with Elewyn and Fanned Blades since Luca is free. Priority order is to avoid the horseys., then hit the guardian and the cultists to make use of the full 3 blades, or the worms if we don't have a shot. Best not waste damage, we'll need every bit.
>I mean, if she told us to bomb the pits, that's probably the best route to take at some point.
She hasn't been very friendly so far, what makes you believe she wants to help us. As I've said, it's just as likely she wants us to kill ourselves with quicksilver poisoning. With how she's acted, I'll take everything she said with a pinch of salt. In fact, I'm only open to using her explosives because Misha could probably tell if it was strong enough to collapse the room on us.

On a separate note, I like the fact we all separately decided we weren't leaving anyone behind! How many anons here were there for the boat on the slaver arc? I'm also asking any lurkers that back off voting since the combat looks intimidating! I know those two in the center pit remind me of the twins there, and I'm not eager for a repeat performance.

>>5464331
I just thought he was still exhausted from the repeated climbing up, down, and hauling back the chains. Glad to hear he's not totally burned out yet!

>>5464350
Sometimes we do need to choose what to sacrifice. We're not there....yet.

I was a lurker for the tail end of the slaver arc, liked what Hien was doing with the characters and started posting on the subsequent threads

>>5464331
Back home, so here's the corrected stats with Luca's stamina where it should be at:

Elewyn
HP: 11
LP: 15
Stamina: 14
MP: 17

Luca
HP: 20
LP: 8
Stamina: 22
MP: 0

Seo
HP: 16
LP: 6
Stamina: 24
MP: 0

Misha
HP: 7
LP: 4
Stamina: 12
MP: 0


Keeping the vote window open until 10pm PST today to allow for any corrections that might still be needed. Thanks everyone for your understanding!

>>5464350
I mean I considered doing method 1 and just facetanking with hp damage in exchange for speed, but being filled to the gills with mercury is so strange that I'm not sure which is the more merciful option.

Rolled 8, 9, 9, 8, 6, 1 = 41 (6d10)

A busy one today, but I have enough stamina in me to tally/synthesize the tactics you guys put forward!

>>5464162
>>5464291
>>5464350

There's pretty good overlap between a lot of what you developed here. We'll start with Elewyn for the time being putting aside the explosives to throw her last flesh piece to bait the flesh serpents closer. This will take place around the same time that Seo tosses a trapped piece of flesh to direct the horses to act as a blocking force between us and the Sanctuary group.

Mishenne to use the remaining of his six caltrops to further booby trap the space between you and the cultists. (Be mindful of these going forward.)

Now for the middle phase actions that will require rolls:

We'll start with Luca to
>Attack the Flesh titan and cultist with his Fanned Blades following these actions.
Stamina Cost: 3
4 Flat Damage to all targets if connected
Rolling 6d10 to see if connected. (CR 7 for the cultists (first 4 dice), CR 4 for the Flesh Titan(last 2 dice))

Rolled 8, 1, 2, 2 = 13 (4d10)

>>5464777

Lucky post number and lucky dice! All knives connect to their targets.

Now for two enemy attacks...

First is one cultist's attack on Luca. The other is for the Flesh Titan's attack on...also Luca. His attack brought attention to himself.

Rolling 4d10 to see if the attacks connect. (CR 4)
First two dice for the cultist, last two for the Flesh Titan.

Rolled 2, 9, 10, 6 = 27 (4d10)

>>5464782
They both connect, if only barely for one...

Moving onto an attack from Seo and Nilo on the serpents that have been baited closer to our main group.
Stamina Cost: 5 (Discerning Bash: Physical Amplification if connected = 18)
Rolling 4d10 for an attack on the same serpent. (CR 4 lowered due to distraction, first two for Seo, last two for Nilo)

>>5464790
Wrapping up the round with a Sundowning cast from Elewyn on the Flesh Titan.
MP Cost: 10

A very dynamic round overall. I'm pretty excited to see how this will unfold.

>Writing! Update to be posted tomorrow hopefully around 8-9pm PST.

>>5464798
wait, sundowning? I didn't catch that one. Kinda concerned since flesh titan isn't quite in a killzone yet.

>>5464970
Maybe I was jumping the gun with: >>5464291
and >>5464350
>To deal with the big guy, I'm gonna suggest whenever he comes forwards to Stun him.

Thought perhaps the stun suggested here was part of the plan to get him into a killzone situation with the pits.

It's an easy adjustment to have Elewyn hold off on casting Sundowning. If the people that voted last round generally have consensus to do so, then I shall make that adjustment!

>>5465171
If the guy's in range of getting punted off the edge into a pit, then I'm down to stun him and send him over the edge. If he's not in range, well then we're just wasting mana.

If he's leading the charge, then Sundowning is definitely needed sooner rather than later

>>5465171
I was quite surprised too since I thought Elewyn throwing the trapped meat meant she wouldn't be able to get a Sundowning off this turn. And I don't think the time is right, since to get at Luca the guardian/ Flesh Titan must be standing next to the two pits that still have Elin in them. His position isn't ideal.
We get one turn with Sundowning, anything beyond that, including another cast, isn't a guaranteed stun. If we intend to heave this thing into a pit, I'd rather wait until the place is right, and preferably with at least Seo lending some muscle, because that sewer boy is big and meaty.

Baiting with Defensive parry and maneuvering him towards out team and the free pit might work, we'll have to wait for the numbers.

>>5464798
Wrote the update without Elewyn casting a Sundowning this round, so no MP cost for her.

Update to be posted soon!

>>5464798

Much destruction can be wrought from these rods that fit within the grasp of your hand. The humans that were the first to fashion them were likely akin to the young one that bestows them to you now, hoping to shape the world through their crafts and overcome other limitations.

Something so small, collectively could topple mountains. But first you must ensure that you’re not lost in the forest at the mountain’s foot…

After taking measure of their potency and their fuse you subtly push the explosive rods back into Misha’s hands. “Soon, but not now.” Instead, you quickly reach for the last chunk of flesh staining the inside of your pack.

“What do you know of pain?...” You mockingly call out to the flesh titan with the dripping piece of meat in your hand. The hot vital juices run down your fingers as you squeeze the flesh.

The flesh creatures begin to pick up on the aroma in the air and their activity quickens.

With cold anger on her face, Seo follows your lead to grab her own caltrop encrusted chunk of viscera.

The flesh titan unsheathes two daggers that are dwarfed by his massive hands. “Of inflicting pain, a great deal, but my body endured the blessing of suffering to be reshaped in this form. You’ll soon receive your final lesson in th-“

He endured it only once…

“No.” Your voice cuts through his deeply reverberating tone. “But you’ll soon receive blessings overflowing.” You quickly turn to Seo. “Now!”

The trapped piece of flesh leaves her fingers before the order is finished, and the agile fleshorses are the first upon it. They buck with great vigor and push roughly against each other to compete for their treat.

>>5465799

The flesh titan and the cultists are forced back, and one of the hooded humans is cut off entirely for fear of being kicked by one of the massive legs and the caltrops that Mishenne has thrown down to further deny advance. However, the fleshserpents being able to slide across the ground sneak past the chaos to charge at the dripping chunk you present for their hungry eyes. Much like their equine counterparts, their voracity has them slamming the lengths of their long muscular forms into one another in aggressive competition. One beast seizes the piece of flesh for himself, while the other, in its zeal, overextends its charge to tumble in a coiling mass among your group.

Your group’s welcome for it comes as a mass of steel slamming into the back of its head. The mix of scales and skin are torn away in the receding flanges of Seo’s mace as purplish blood quickly wells to the wound. A hiss and a bellow overlap as it screams in outrage. The remonstrance is cut short upon lengthy blade as Nilo skewers the beast’s flank. It has no choice but to retreat from the overwhelming offensive with blood dripping rapidly from its wounds.

At the same time, Luca shouts in frustration at the continued attack, but lunges forward to assail three Sanctuary agents with a set of his pointed knives. The small blades find their targets’ torso to tear into the yielding flesh.

Angered by the denied approach to brutalize you, the flesh titan and one of the cultists charge toward the new target of their ire. The fleshtitan’s massive size belies his speed, and he is soon vigorously upon Luca. His lengthy trunks for arms punch the daggers into the air rather than simply stabbing, and soon he finds the meat of Luca’s shoulder to bash his blade into.

The young human recoils from the agonizing attack with a grunt of pain, and hastily unsheathes his sword to beat back the assailants, but not before the cultist finds an opening crack a barbed club against the meat of Luca’s thigh. A wide slice of Luca’s longsword forces them to cut short their assault.

File: MPE7.png (6.97 MB, 2506x1721)

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>>5465805

He won’t be able to withstand the onslaught for much longer. Izurin senses this as well and has left Haruei in Mian’s care to assist her human caretaker. On the opposite side of the room, the fleshorse unlucky enough to outpace its counterpart to retrieve the barbed flesh soon bloodily bellows in agony as the pointed caltrops dig mercilessly into the back of its throat. Red foam forms upon its lips as it furiously searches for a target to deem responsible for this pain. The lift activates once more causing the other fleshorse to trot away in growing annoyance of the tumult, scraping its heel against the ground.

As the flesh titan steps back from Luca's arc of steel, he spots the huddled forms of the Elin standing far behind the young human. "They've already stolen our cerebral chattel." His dark beady eyes turn to the remaining lengths of chain. "Do not let them free any more..." He growls his order to his underlings.

He aims to trigger the mechanism through their chains, and the given their palpable agitation, the fleshorses will soon join the fray as well whoever is calling the lift back. With no more pieces of pieces of flesh left to direct the beast, you ready your staff as the savage fight to rescue your kin continues.

_________________________________________________________________________

First blood has been drawn for both sides. Luca has endured a brutal onslaught, but still stands ready to fight despite his wishes to retreat. The fleshserpent assaulted on their side barely clings to life, but may yet attack if left unaddressed, and the fleshorse baited by the trapped chunk of flesh bleeds steadily from swallowing the caltrops. (Bleed status active on the fleshorse with the blood drop icon.)

Meanwhile, the flesh titan aims to impede your attack and mission by triggering the sensitive chain mechanism leading to the remaining Elin within the pit, and he and the cultists will need to be forcefully stopped to prevent this. Finally, the lift has been called back by an unseen force.

Currently you have freed 4 Elin from the mechanism. (Nilo, Mian, Haruei, and another that yet remains in the pit.)

You have 1 trapped piece of flesh left that Seo carries. Mishenne currently carries the bundle of explosives. The caltrops are the pointed grey shapes on the battle map.


Elewyn
HP: 11
LP: 15
Stamina: 13
MP: 17

Luca
HP: 11
LP: 8
Stamina: 18
MP: 0

Seo
HP: 16
LP: 6
Stamina: 18
MP: 0

Misha
HP: 7
LP: 4
Stamina: 11
MP: 0

>Devise a strategy for you and your companions as to how you will address the ongoing battle. (Nilo will still assist you with fighting or other tasks.)

>>5465827
I'm not expecting the middle pit elin to survive this, but we're going to have to try.

Where's the stretcher, by the way? I don't recall any other suitably large object the elin can lift.

>>5465833
>Where's the stretcher, by the way?
The travois would be located around where Haruei and Mian are now.

>>5465840
So tentatively, we could have the 3 elin lift it up and barricade the left side to keep them inside Luca's area. As long as Luca can stay topped up, that side is decently stalled.

Lift headed back up? Not good. Very not good. In my eyes, that means that the alarm has been raised, and that they aren't being distracted by anything else at the moment, or believe that down here is the highest priority. It's gonna take time for them to go up and down, but getting clear away without pursuit's going to be a pain.

>>5465840
Just to be clear, the central pit Elin are bloated and unresponsive, and the left side pit's got one who's more active, but still chained, right?

>>5465851
>Just to be clear, the central pit Elin are bloated and unresponsive, and the left side pit's got one who's more active, but still chained, right?
The middle two Elin are definitely bloated with quicksilver and thus far unresponsive to stimuli. The other would best be characterized as heavily woozy, but responsive and not subjected to the same level of quicksilver as the middle two Elin.

>>5465827
This is gonna hurt a bit, but bear with it Luca.

>The 3 Elin pick up the stretcher and use it to keep the cultist from breaking through.
>Luca stays in front of the barricade with defensive Parry
>Nilo keeps hammering the serpents, while Seo either does the same or pushes through the serpents towards bossman
>Sundowning time
>Misha figures out where's a good spot to throw the explosive to take out the lift. and tries not to die.

Luca's going to need some serious healing soon, and we're running out of time to use the bomb.

>>5465415
>>5465827
Hmm, not ideal, but we’re making progress.

>>5466023
Defensive parry won’t work, we have to engage them to keep them away from the chain mechanism. That goes for both the Flesh Titan and the two cultitst.
We essentially have a right flank and a left flank. Luca is weakening on the left while the right is covered by caltrops. I say we use an old trick. Back on the slaver ships, we had Elewyn Gale from one place to the other with Ruby in tow. I suggest we use that to bring both Elewyn and Nilo over to Luca. Nilo can engage the cultist while Luca and Elewyn deal with the Titan, and Seo stays behind to either finish off the snake or maybe strike at the cultist if she’s able to without crossing the caltrops.

We have a bunch of issues, namely reinforcements, the horsey’s actions, and the boss’s placement.
Reinforcements should be 3-4 turns away, and depending on how the flooding downstairs is going, that elevator may just have to be our way out…
The horseys I’m hoping will gravitate towards the nearest target, that being the cultist. Or the bleeding one will come and get stuck on the caltrops. Since Seo has the last piece of meat, I guess she could just say "Catch !" and throw it at the cultist on her side. You’d be surpised how often poeple do catch in this situation! It might help the horsey pick the right target.
Boss placement is where we’ll have to be proactive. If it isn’t close to the one pit that’s suitable to heave him into, then either we lead him there (unlikely given his insistence on going after the Elins in the pit right now) or deal with that last chain ourselves, which could get him moving again, but more importantly would open up the left pit. Task Izurin with the last Elin in the left pit, send Nilo and Elewyn in the middle and have Misha come in for a method 2, have everyone climb out the pit, get the boo into phase 2, push and Gale it down into the left pit, light the fuse, and fire in the hole. Here’s hoping that traitor’s tip about the pits wasn’t actually a way to get us all killed…

On the other hand, we can be really proactive, Sundown the boss now, have Luca finish off the cultist on the left while we move up the third method 2 to this round. Either he stays stunned an extra turn and we focus him down or we hope his phase 2 transition leave him open for a turn and we toss him in the pit then.

No matter what I think Misha needs to move towards the last chain, we’ll have to be quick about this, and there’s nothing for him to do on the right.
I guess we could save a Gale on Elewyn if her and Nilo go around, but this looks rather time sensitive, so 2MP might be an acceptable cost.

>>5466073
Flooding might be downstairs, but going up the elevator is straight into the heart of Sanctuary, and is like running out the front door of a bank during a heist.

I'm not really understanding of why the Flesh Titan would be trying to trigger the mechanism. Like, his prisoners need to be alive, else they would have killed them beforehand rather than keeping them here. I can buy a "Rather dead than free" excuse, but he's still got he upper hand right now, has us outnumbered in combatants, and outmassed. I would worry more about him triggering mechanisms out of spite if he starts losing, rather than as a first move.

And if he does trigger the mechanism on the remaining two chained Elin, that means we've only got one more to rescue.

I'm gonna propose an aggressive strat.
>Luca pulls back with a Defensive Parry, pulling the Titan and Cultist into the space between the holes
>Gale the two worms off to send them into the far wall, getting them away from us for a turn or two.
>Seo and Nilo push forwards, engaging the remaining cultist while going around the caltrops, and getting enough room for Misha to work on the remaining mechanism.

Elewyn can hop down the central hole to pull it back, while Izurin hops down the left hole to pull that one back, and then we bounce out of the center with at least one of the comatose ones with Gale and try to trip the Titan to fall down the center. (On a later turn, I mean)

Or, something along the lines of using one of the broken chains to have Misha pull us up after they're disconnected.

Still leaves us with the problem of Izurin and another in the left-hand pit, but being able to be more active implies they're able to climb out on their own if she's freed.

>>5466250
>I'm not really understanding of why the Flesh Titan would be trying to trigger the mechanism.

Maybe he thinks they're ready enough. Or they had more than expected and can afford losses. Or it's another boat situation where its all about torturing the survivors to refine them. Or it's just crazy cultist stuff.

Also, Parry won't work if they don't attack us, which the Titan isn't keen on doing.

Good point with the chain, but don't they fall apart when disarmed? Or was it just method 3?

>>5466073
I'm still a bit torn, but I'll go with my more aggressive plan since getting him/it into phase 2 will earn us another turn's respite from the boss, and I hate how they're getting us to spread damage so far.
>Elewyn to Gale across the middle pit with Nilo for the sake of speed, then cast Sundowning on the Flesh Titan.
>Luca to attack the left flank cultist directly (Foucsed Slash/Thrust, was it?).
>Nilo to either help kill the cultist or attack the Flesh Titan if the left cultist is dead.
>Seo to get rid of her last piece of meat by throwing it at the cultist. If it baits the serpents and the horsey, all the better. If possible, follow up by finishing off the wounded serpent, unless it involves stepping in the caltrops.
>Misha to move across the backline to get into a position for a method 2 as soon as possible. If it happens before the next vote for some reason, then I'm nominating Luca for the middle and Nilo for the left, since the boss will still be stunned, but we can probably decide this next turn.

Looking back, the Titan isn't ideally placed for getting tilted into the left pit, but we can deal with that when we get there. With this setup, we're disabling a big damage dealer and hopefully getting started on cutting down their dps. With any luck, it will also draw one, then two horseys against their backline, but that isn't a guarantee. I do want to see if the right flank cultist catches the meat by reflex or not!

Rolled 1 (1d3)

Heyo everyone, finally back home from an after work outing and ready to see how we might be able to implement the strategies you guys have laid out.

Hmm...I honestly had debated for some time if these plans are able to be synthesized or not. I've come to the conclusion that any combination isn't going to lead to an effective result to satisfy the core goal behind any set of tactics, and choosing one core goal to pull tactics from to satisfy wouldn't be fair and not something I would personally want to do.

I will leave it to the dice to decide, but I'm honestly impressed (not just in this case) at the creativity that went into drafting thoughtful and coincidentally very distinct plans for this round!

>>5466023
Tactics laid out here = 1
>>5466250
Tactics laid out here = 2
>>5466399
Tactics laid out here = 3

>Rolling 1d3 to decide our chosen plan and will be writing the outcome. Update to be posted tomorrow around 8pm PST!

Rolled 4, 10, 6, 8 = 28 (4d10)

>>5466023
>>5466802

Taking care of the combat rolls and numbers I was a little too busy to take care of last night:

Starting off with Elewyn to cast Sundowning on the flesh titan:
MP Cost: 10

Which will lead into both Seo and Nilo attacking the flesh serpents to advance toward him:
Stamina Cost: 5 (Discerning Bash: Physical Amplification if connected = 18)
>Rolling 4d10 for their attacks, focusing on the injured serpent first: (CR 6, first two dice for Seo, last two for Nilo)